- Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya says he narrowly escaped something akin to assassination after goons stormed his rally in Bungoma with gunshots
- The chaos left damage at MP Majimbo Kalasinga’s home, which Natembeya linked to Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, accusing him of contracting goons
- Natembeya has urged the IEBC to act decisively, warning that unchecked attacks threaten the credibility of the upcoming November 27 by-election
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya has implied that he survived an attempt on his life after goons raided a political rally he was addressing in Bungoma.
Source: Twitter
The governor was in Chwele-Kabuchai ward on Saturday, November 22, where he drummed up support for the DAP-K candidate ahead of the November 27 by-election.
As he spoke to the residents who gathered in their numbers, a moment of disorder took over as goons invaded from different directions.
Gunshots were heard in the area.
As the locals ran to safety, Natembeya stood still, seeming unbothered by the danger that was posed.
The commotion left a trail of damage, especially at area MP Majimbo Kalasinga’s home.
The Kabuchai lawmaker’s mansion was pelted with stones, with Natembeya linking the attack to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
According to him, the attack was launched from Wetang’ula’s home, which supposedly adjoins the venue they were holding their rally at and which is also near Kalasinga’s home.
He was stunned that he was able to survive a situation akin to assassination.
The county boss challenged Wetang’ula to face off with his opponents on issues at the expense of leveraging state power to suppress those he doesn’t agree with.
“The leader of the National Assembly is the one doing these things. Sending goons to come and destroy the home of an MP because they do not belong to the same political opinion. If an MP cannot be safe at his own home, which Kenyan is safe? In our meeting, his goons shot at us with live ammunition. They were coming from the home of the speaker. I was almost killed. If you are a man, you face your fellow men, not hiding behind the government,” he said.
A number of vehicles in Natembeya’s convoy were also damaged in the melee.
He called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to intervene and take action against the side believed to have perpetrated the violence.
Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya is also fielding a candidate in the minipoll.
“If IEBC is independent, they must take decisive action for what has happened here,” he said.
The Wetang’ula-led Ford Kenya party is fielding a candidate in the ward by-election.
The ward is among the areas whose minipoll results will be treated as determinants for the 2027 general election.
The united opposition seeks to use the by-elections to gauge their political muscles against President William Ruto, whom they have vowed to challenge out of office in the election.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
