Drama unfolded in Kitale on Monday morning as armed police officers accompanied by officials from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) raided the Milimani residence of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
The raid, carried out under heavy security, sparked immediate concern and drew a crowd of residents and supporters to the scene. The gathering outside the governor’s home prompted a swift police response, with officers dispersing the crowd to maintain order.
According to sources close to the operation, the EACC officers, who had traveled from Nairobi, were armed with a search warrant and were seeking to interrogate Natembeya in connection with an ongoing investigation. However, the exact nature of the probe remains unclear, as EACC officials declined to divulge specific details.
The incident comes just a day after several opposition leaders claimed they had credible information pointing to a planned arrest of Natembeya. The governor, a vocal critic of President William Ruto’s administration, has been a prominent opposition figure and a member of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).
Reacting to the raid, DAP-K condemned the move as politically motivated. In a statement shared on social media, the party accused the government of using state security agencies to settle political scores.
“A heavy contingent of police officers in plain clothes, well-masked, have gained access to Governor George Natembeya’s Milimani home in Kitale. Such Moi-era tactics won’t work in current times. Stop using security apparatus to settle political scores,” read the statement.
Natembeya has yet to issue a formal response to the raid, but allies have decried what they termed as intimidation against leaders who speak out against the government.
The morning raid adds to growing fears among the opposition that the state is increasingly resorting to coercive tactics against dissenting voices. As the investigation unfolds, all eyes will remain on the EACC and whether formal charges will be brought against the Trans Nzoia governor.
