Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has strongly criticized President William Ruto’s recent directive to security forces to “shoot in the legs” of protesters, terming it dangerous and unconstitutional. Speaking during a bursary issuance event at Muungano Primary School in Kiminini subcounty, Natembeya urged the President to retract the directive, warning that it could escalate violence and lead to more unnecessary deaths.
“The President is elected to protect lives, not to harm citizens,” said Natembeya. He emphasized the importance of listening to the voices of young protesters instead of silencing them with force, noting that the continued killing of Gen Z demonstrators had severely damaged Kenya’s international image.
During the event, Natembeya presided over the disbursement of Sh1.4 million in bursaries to 210 needy students. He also paid Sh1 million in fees for students at Muungano Secondary School as part of the county’s Ukombozi bursary initiative, which seeks to reduce school dropout rates and improve academic performance.
Natembeya lamented the poor results posted by Muungano Secondary in the 2023 national exams, where 44 students scored grade E and only one student qualified for university admission. He attributed this to absenteeism caused by poverty, lack of sanitary pads, and early pregnancies.
“No child should miss school because of poverty,” said Natembeya. “We are committed to ensuring that every child has the resources they need to learn and thrive.”
The governor also distributed sanitary pads, calculators, and mathematical sets to final-year students and called on them to take their studies seriously.
Education executive Janerose Mutama echoed these concerns, noting that many students are forced to work in farms to pay fees, while others, especially girls, face early pregnancies and exploitation.
Muungano Secondary principal Wekesa added that social challenges, including teen pregnancies and lack of basic needs, were derailing learning. Counseling and mentorship programs have since been introduced to support affected students.
Natembeya affirmed that the county will continue investing in long-term solutions such as the Nawiri Fund to boost household incomes and reduce reliance on bursaries.
