GEORGE NATEMBEYA SECURITY HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

The security detail for Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya has been withdrawn.
The Governor told Citizen Digital that the security officers manning his home and the guards attached to him were withdrawn on Wednesday, 12:00 am.

These developments follow attacks on the governor on Saturday, November 22, after armed goons ambushed him at Chwele Ward in Kabuchai, Bungoma County.

Those goons attacked the residence of Kabuchai Member of Parliament Majimbo Kalasinga as well.

Viral images and video captured Natembeya's destroyed vehicles, with the county boss alleging that he was shot at several times after goons stormed the rally.

He would then link the chaos to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, his political rival.

Speaking while assessing the damage at Kalasinga’s home, Natembeya slammed Wetangula, accusing him of using government machinery to settle political scores.

"This is so primitive, it's not politics. Wabunge wa Kenya, huyu ndio Chairman wenu anafanya mambo kama hii…your leader in the National Assembly is the one doing these things. Sending goons to come and destroy the home of a member of the National Assembly…because they have a different political opinion," he said.

However, Governor Natembeya has promised to remain unchallenged, reiterating his commitment to ensuring he strengthens the opposition, citing that President William Ruto also had his security withdrawn during his tenure as the Deputy President.

In August 2021, Deputy President William Ruto's elite General Service Unit officers were withdrawn from his official Karen residence and other homes and replaced with Administration Police officers.

Ruto termed the move as strange and illegal, saying it contravened the Police Service Standing Orders, adding that it was politically motivated.

His office wrote to the Inspector General, who was Hillary Mutyambai, demanding an explanation, arguing the withdrawal exposed him to harm and was part of a systematic effort to undermine his security.

Earlier in 2019, security details for some politicians allied to Ruto, among them governors and MPs, were also withdrawn under unclear circumstances.

The opposition leaders accused the government of using security as a political weapon to intimidate those opposing it, while police termed the changes as normal reassignments.

The withdrawal of the governor's security at this critical election period raises serious concerns over state neutrality and integrity of democratic processes.
It has undermined public confidence, and can stimulate further violence or disputes in other situations.

The Western Kenya region is a battleground in the lead-up to the general election scheduled for 2027, and any notion of political interference may inflame tensions and destabilize this region.

The Kabuchai by-election now serves as a test of Kenya’s commitment to uphold constitutional guarantees of fairness, security, and equal participation in electoral contests.