In a stunning and dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s political scene, heavily armed officers stormed the home of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya early Monday morning under mysterious and highly secretive circumstances.
The high-stakes operation, reportedly executed by riot police in collaboration with officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), caught the sleepy town of Kitale off guard as uniformed forces descended on the governor’s residence just after dawn.
Eyewitnesses describe a chaotic scene as hundreds of furious Natembeya supporters flooded the area, facing off with police in a tense standoff. Chanting slogans of the “Tawe Movement,” they accused the government of using state machinery to settle political vendettas.
“This is a witch hunt!” one supporter shouted as police reinforcements were rushed in to prevent the already volatile situation from spiraling out of control.
The raid comes just 24 hours after Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka issued a chilling warning during a speech in Machakos, alleging that powerful forces were plotting to disgrace Natembeya due to his open opposition to President William Ruto’s administration.
“Governor Natembeya is under siege,” Kalonzo declared. “They want to arrest him and let him go—just to humiliate him publicly.”
He further claimed that the EACC had been granted a search warrant in a bid to intimidate the governor and cripple his growing political influence in the Western region.
The situation reached a boiling point last week when Natembeya, flanked by Members of Parliament and former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, was blocked by security forces from accessing Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County.
The team, which included legal advisors, had planned to meet with management and address the mill’s ongoing crisis—only to be turned away without explanation.
Efforts to reach Governor Natembeya’s communication team were unsuccessful, fueling speculation and concern over the raid’s true motive.
In a brief statement to NTV, EACC CEO Abdi Ahmed Mohamud confirmed the operation was indeed under the commission’s directive, but declined to provide further details, only stating it was “a routine exercise.”But in a region simmering with political discontent, nothing about this morning felt routine.
