Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has ruled out any possibility of joining the Kenya Kwanza administration, instead pledging to consolidate the Tawe Movement as a political vehicle to unite the Western Kenya region.
Speaking in Kiminini on Wednesday, Natembeya said the region had long been sidelined in matters of development despite contributing significantly to national revenue through taxes. He accused local leaders of failing to champion the community’s interests, leaving Western Kenya lagging behind in infrastructure and investment.
“Our vote has only benefitted leaders from other regions and they are now pushing development to their areas,” Natembeya said. He added that speculation about him being lobbied by senior Kenya Kwanza officials, including Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, was misplaced, as he remains committed to charting an independent path for the Luhya community.
Natembeya maintained that Western Kenya must stop being taken for granted and push for its rightful share of government projects. He cited his recent lobbying for promotions in the disciplined forces, which saw several officers from the region elevated, as an example of tangible advocacy.
The governor dismissed ongoing Kenya Kwanza empowerment programmes as a “mockery,” arguing that the funds and equipment being distributed were too little to create meaningful impact. “How is giving people money that is later shared among themselves at KSh20 each empowerment? That is laughable,” he posed, while questioning the transparency of the initiatives.
Natembeya also criticised the government’s tax regime, saying it had driven companies out of business, deepening youth unemployment. He further faulted the leasing of 24,000 acres of Nzoia Sugar Company land at Sh50,000 per acre for 30 years, terming it an act of corruption and betrayal of the community.
Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, who attended the event, echoed Natembeya’s sentiments. He accused Ford Kenya politics of undermining Bungoma’s development and declared support for the Tawe Movement as a unifying platform for Western Kenya.
Natembeya’s firm stance signals a renewed push for a strong regional bloc that could shape the country’s political landscape ahead of 2027.
