Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has condemned his recent arrest and the subsequent searches of his home as politically motivated and conducted in an unprofessional manner.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, Natembeya said he was unaware of the reasons for his arrest in 2025, when officers arrived at his residence with a court order to search for documents, property records, and electronics.
“It was politics. It was majorly politics, complaints from the public, allegations. That’s what I hear,” he said, describing the search as aggressive and akin to a “vengeance mission.”
The governor recounted how officers confiscated personal electronics, including laptops, telephones, and other devices, and even demanded access to his safe.
“I told them, can I just go and open for you? I thought we were going to run things smoothly, but actually, they insisted I accompany them, handcuffs and all. It was not professional at all,” Natembeya said.
He stressed that no evidence of wrongdoing was found, noting that cash seized from his home was intended for his son’s school fees.
Natembeya criticized the bureaucratic handling of the situation, describing hours-long interrogations and the denial of access to his preferred legal counsel.
“In the evening, they even denied my wakili. There were orders from above. I think from State House,” he claimed, alleging that senior officials monitored the process and made calls to check on progress, creating an atmosphere of intimidation.
He also decried the treatment of his property, noting that officers uprooted fixtures from his house and transported them to offices, calling the acts “vandalism” and “bad.”
Despite the ordeal, Natembeya maintains that all public funds and activities under his purview were accounted for and properly audited.
“What were they going to produce? All they had to do was check with the chief officer what this money meant. It was just per diem,” he explained.
The governor attributed the political tension to internal party dynamics, noting disputes with coalition leaders and shifts in allegiance.
“Of course, this happened because the opposition is no longer united. I had a serious problem with my party leader, and I really campaigned for change,” Natembeya said. He emphasized that he has consistently raised public governance issues and that the legal proceedings against him have not found merit in the claims.
Natembeya concluded by highlighting systemic delays in government disbursements, stating that his personal handling of funds on his phone was part of normal operations.
“Government disbursement of money from the county is really delayed. If the disbursements now come, my team will process the money and send it to me. They don’t need to make a fuss about that,” he said.
