Kitale residents turns up in numbers to welcome Natembeya home
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya brought Kitale town to a standstill on Monday, May 26, 2025, as thousands of his supporters thronged the streets to welcome him back to the county following his dramatic arrest last week that saw him spend a night at the EACC headquarters.
The governor, who landed at Kisumu International Airport earlier in the day, accompanied by Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah, embarked on a grand procession across western Kenya.
His convoy made stopovers in key towns, including Luanda in Vihiga, Kakamega town, Malava, Webuye, Bungoma town, Chwele, Kimilili, Kamukuywa, and Kiminini before making a triumphant entry into Kitale town, the county headquarters.
In each stop, Natembeya attracted massive crowds, with supporters chanting his popular slogan “Tawe!” a Luhya word meaning “No, which he has used as a rallying call to reject bad governance.
The slogan has now become a symbol of resistance and change among his supporters, many of whom see him as a voice of defiance against the status quo that has long dominated the region.
During his addresses, Natembeya emphasised the need for unity in the Mulembe nation, urging residents to speak with one voice come 2027.
He called on the people to rally behind leaders who have their interests at heart and insisted on the importance of casting votes in one basket to secure the community’s political future.
“Lazima 2027 tuongee kwa lugha moja, ndiyo tuondoe umaskini na madharau ya pesa nane,” Natembeya said.
By the time he reached Kitale, his voice was almost gone, having addressed over 10 stopovers; not even the rain stopped him from speaking to the people.
Natembeya’s arrest
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya was arrested on May 19, 2025, by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged corruption involving procurement irregularities and fictitious payments totalling Ksh1.4 billion during the 2022/2023 and 2024/2025 financial years.
The charges relate to three projects: the rehabilitation of Kenyatta Stadium, the construction of Trans Nzoia County Headquarters, and the construction of Tom Mboya Hospital.
He was arraigned at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on May 20, 2025, facing three counts: unlawful acquisition of public property Ksh3,252,568, conflict of interest, and indirectly benefiting from public funds through companies like Lyma Agro Science Limited, Maira Stores, and Easterly Winds Limited.
Natembeya pleaded not guilty and was released on a Ksh1 million bond or Ksh500,000 cash bail with strict conditions: barred from accessing his county office for 60 days, prohibited from leaving Kenya without court permission, and warned against witness interference or commenting on the case publicly.
The EACC raid on his Kitale home on May 19 sparked protests, with residents vandalising eight EACC vehicles, leading to 14 arrests.
