A directive by County Commissioner Hussein Allaso barring National Government administrators from saluting Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has triggered a bitter confrontation between the two county bosses, raising questions about the political neutrality of public officers and the use of official authority in political disputes.
On Mashujaa Day, Mr Allaso ordered government administrators in the county to stop saluting the governor over what he described as disrespect towards President William Ruto, declaring that they would also disrespect Mr Natembeya. The administrator’s directive has raised questions about the boundaries between official protocol, political allegiance and the obligation of public officers to serve impartially.
Governor Natembeya, in response, has accused the commissioner of political sycophancy and insisted that public officers owe their allegiance to the Constitution, not an individual.
The exchange has deepened tensions between the county leadership and the national government following Mr Ruto’s recent development tour of Trans Nzoia, bringing into focus the relationship between national and county administrations and the obligation of public officers to remain impartial.
Mr Allaso issued the directive during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Naminit Primary School in Chepchoina Ward, Endebes Constituency, accusing the governor of disrespecting the President.
The development deepens the tensions between the National Government and the Governor, which played out during President Ruto’s tour of the region last week.
“Starting today, nobody is allowed to salute the governor because of his disrespect to the President. We will also disrespect him and that is the directive I am giving out without fear,” he said while addressing chiefs.
Ruto accuses Natembeya of stalling the national government’s development projects
The commissioner said National Government officers will continue carrying out their mandate without intimidation, insisting that leaders in the county must respect the Presidency.
“I have 30 years’ experience in provincial administration and this is my 21st county working as an administrator. Nobody can teach me my work and we will do the National Government work here in Trans Nzoia without intimidation by anyone,” he said.
Accompanied by members of the county security team, including deputy county commissioners and chiefs, Mr Allaso said no leader would be allowed to interfere with the work of national government officers.
“We have a clear mandate as officers of the National Government and no one will intimidate our work going forward,” he said.
He also pledged to protect the Masinde Muliro market project launched by President Ruto last Friday, saying the President’s directives on the project would be fully implemented.
Heavy police presence at the Central Business District in Kitale town,Trans Nzoia County on Monday October 19, 2026 due to showdown over Masinde Muliro market opened by President William Ruto.
Photo credit: Evans Jaola | Nation
The order drew a sharp response from Mr Natembeya, who dismissed the commissioner as an “overzealous sycophant with no grounding of constitutionalism”.
Speaking at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s home in Wamunyoro, Nyeri County, where he had accompanied Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other opposition leaders, Mr Natembeya said he found the directive “hilarious”.
“You were employed to serve the Constitution, not the President,” he said, saying the county administrator was behaving more like the President’s personal gateman rather than a neutral government administrator.
“He is behaving like the President’s gateman. You were not employed to be a gatekeeper,” he said.
Mr Natembeya, a former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, urged the administrator to uphold professionalism, arguing that advancement in public service should be based on performance rather than political praise-singing.
“Be less emotional and cease sycophancy to rise up the command stairs. Commissioners rise through professionalism, not praise-singing. Also remember that power is transient. What would you do if Ruto got voted out and you find yourself working in our opposition government?” he said.
He called on the commissioner to respect the distinct roles of national and county governments and ensure security and service delivery were not influenced by political differences.
The governor argued that public administrators were required to remain politically impartial and serve the public rather than demonstrate personal loyalty to the Head of State.
Citing Article 232 of the Constitution, which sets out the values and principles of public service, Mr Natembeya said public officers were required to uphold professional ethics, accountability, transparency, impartiality and non-partisanship.
“A County Commissioner is a career public administrator, not a political mobiliser. He is supposed to be non-partisan in politics of the day. His loyalty is to the Constitution, to the people, and to the Republic, not to an individual,” he said.
President William Ruto and Governor George Natembeya.
Photo credit: NMG
The dispute comes amid growing tension between Mr Natembeya and the President following Mr Ruto’s recent development tour of Trans Nzoia, including the launch of the Masinde Muliro market project.
Under Article 6 of the Constitution, the two levels of government are required to conduct their relations through consultation and cooperation. The Public Service and National Government Coordination Act also provides a legal framework for the work of national government administrators.
The dispute also exposed contrasting positions within the county leadership, with Deputy Governor Philomena Kapkory aligning herself with the call for respect for the Presidency, even as Governor Natembeya challenged what he described as political interference in public administration.
At the Mashujaa Day celebrations, the Deputy Governor defended President Ruto and called on leaders to respect the Presidency amid the political tensions.
Ms Kapkory, who led residents at the ceremony alongside Mr Allaso, said Trans Nzoia was a cosmopolitan county whose residents should not be divided along political lines ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“We should not allow any leader to come and divide us. This is a cosmopolitan county and the President must be respected as the Head of State,” she said.
She declared her support for Mr Ruto’s re-election and called for peaceful coexistence, political tolerance and respect for differing opinions.
Mr Natembeya skipped the celebrations, opting to travel to Nyeri, where he accompanied opposition leaders to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s home, leaving his deputy, Philomena Kapkory, to lead the county delegation alongside members of the national government administration.
Mr Natembeya had accompanied a delegation of the Linda Mwananchi Movement led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to meet Mr Gachagua. The team included Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale and Bumula MP Jack Wamboka.
The meeting focused on efforts by opposition leaders to agree on a joint presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
