The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday morning launched a series of raids on homes and offices linked to Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and several senior county officials over alleged irregularities in multi-billion-shilling projects.
The anti-graft agency said the coordinated operation is part of investigations into suspected procurement malpractices amounting to KES 1.4 billion in the construction and rehabilitation of key infrastructure projects in the county.
The projects under scrutiny include the rehabilitation of Kenyatta Stadium, the construction of the new county headquarters, and Tom Mboya Hospital, among others.
EACC officers, flanked by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), raided the governor’s private residence in Kitale, as well as the homes of the county’s Chief Officer for Finance, Director of Procurement, and two other top officials.
Tension and Protests
The early-morning operation triggered tension across Kitale, with groups of youth storming the governor’s residence in protest.
The scene quickly turned chaotic as the crowd pelted EACC vehicles with stones and chanted slogans accusing the state of targeting the governor for political reasons.
Several vehicles belonging to the anti-graft agency were vandalised during the standoff, prompting police to fire warning shots to disperse the growing crowd.
“This is nothing short of political intimidation,” said a visibly agitated youth leader at the scene.
“Governor Natembeya has been vocal against the government, and now they’re trying to silence him using corruption allegations.”
A Governor Under Fire
Governor Natembeya, a former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, has in recent months emerged as one of the fiercest critics of President William Ruto’s administration.
He has questioned the government’s priorities, spending, and management of public affairs, often accusing it of sidelining certain regions in resource allocation and development.
Political analysts view Monday’s events as the latest in a string of incidents that raise questions about the impartiality of state agencies in the war on corruption.
“This operation may well be legal and justified, but its optics cannot be ignored,” said one of political scientist. “The perception that anti-graft institutions are being weaponised against dissenting voices continues to gain ground.”
EACC Responds
In a statement issued later in the day, EACC said the raids were part of a larger investigation and warned that attempts to interfere with or obstruct the process would be treated as a criminal offence.
“These investigations are based on credible information and documentation received regarding potential loss of public funds. No individual is above the law,” the statement read in part.
While the governor himself was not arrested, sources indicated that forensic audits and procurement records have been seized for further analysis.
Political Undertones
Although the EACC has not made any political statement, supporters of Governor Natembeya maintain that the timing and nature of the operation are suspicious, coming just weeks after he called for greater accountability in national government spending during a public forum in Nairobi.
Trans Nzoia County has long been seen as a swing region with increasing political significance.
Governor Natembeya is believed to be positioning himself for a bigger political role ahead of the 2027 general election.
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