The presence of five vehicles outside Kitale’s Milimani palatial residential area on Monday morning sparked curiosity among area residents.
The vehicles with private number plates reminded the residents of last Sunday’s public statement by Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka about plans to arrest Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
Word about the planned arrest had been circulating on social media, sparking tension among the governor’s supporters.
That weekend, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had pitched camp in the county, where he sent a stern warning to critics of the government and the presidency. He singled out former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Governor Natembeya, whom he accused of engaging in incitement and painting the government as unstable.
Supporters of Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya protest at the entrance to his home at Milimani in Kitale on May 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
On Sunday, the CS told Governor Natembeya to stop disrespecting the presidency.
"He should not be reckless in his utterances," he said, stating that the government will firmly deal with and arrest such politicians and other leaders, regardless of their political status or affiliation.
The vehicles carrying officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) are believed to have arrived in Milimani Estate in Kitale at around 5am. The officers had carried out surveillance mapping of the local homes to identify Mr Natembeya’s home.
Mr Francis Wangila said that the convoy had woken Governor Natembeya's neighbours, who were curious about the presence of the officers.
"We didn't understand the officers mission until we saw them trying to access the governor’s home. This is when residents started flocking to the area a few minutes past 7 am,” he said.
Guarded by armed police officers, the team tried to gain entry to the home. Boda boda operators spread the news of plans to arrest the governor.
When the Nation team arrived, a crowd outside the governor’s home questioned the EACC team about their mission.
Police remove barricades placed on Kitale-Eldoret Road by supporters of Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya on May 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
By this time, a section of county officials and the governor’s aide had arrived at the governor’s home.
"When the EACC officers told us their mission, we asked them to produce a search warrant, and they obliged," Mr Wangila said.
"We became suspicious when one officer tried to carry a box from one of the vehicles, and we stopped him," said Mr John Barasa.
The scene became chaotic when word went round that the team intended to arrest the governor. Rowdy youths, who vowed to stop the governor’s arrest, accused the EACC of going after Governor Natembeya due to his political stance.
Governor Natembeya's kin says police raid on home 'inhumane and unjust'
The youths vandalised the vehicles belonging to the EACC officers. They deflated their tyres to ground them as helpless police officers watched.
There were spontaneous protests in the area as the unruly youths burned tyres on the road leading to the governor’s home. They extensively damaged one of the vehicles.
A vehicle believed to belong to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) which were vandalised by youths reacting to a raid on the home of Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya in Kitale on May 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
"We were told to come here, and there are no instructions for us to act," one officer told journalists.
The raid lasted over five hours. General Service Units GSU arrived in two trucks to rescue the EACC team. Anti-riot officers lobbed tear gas at the angry residents before the youths engaged the officers in running battles.
The arrival of Democratic Action Party- Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa in the area around 10am calmed the situation when he announced that the governor was safe in Nairobi and that the officers had not found money or evidence to implicate the governor.
Natembeya hurriedly leaves court after he was freed on bail
"The officers have not found any serious document to implicate our governor. I have talked to the governor, and he has assured me that he is safe in Nairobi, where I am heading to join him," Mr Wamalwa told a charged crowd. He was accompanied by Members of County Assembly Eric Wafula Mwangale and Andrew Kutitila.
Mr Emmanuel Waswa, Governor Natembeya’s adviser, and former Motosiet MCA Bernard Muganda condemned actions by the government.
The Daily Nation has established that some police officers were reluctant to assist the EACC team in what a senior officer described as bad blood between the police and EACC detectives.
A senior police officer blamed the violent incident on poor intelligence and coordination of the EACC team.
“These people sometimes plan their things without informing us,” said the officer.
Residents light a bonfire outside the main entrance of Governor Natembeya's home.
Photo credit: Evans Jaola| Nation Media Group
Police were forced to call for reinforcement of GSU officers to contain the situation before EACC team left the governor's house.
For more than one hour, traffic in and out of Kitale town was disrupted. The residents, in support of the governor, made their way to the main bus park, where they sang the national anthem before dispersing at 5pm.
Some of the governor’s supporters accused the Kenya Kwanza government of intimidating Mr Natembeya because of his political stand.
“We went to the governor’s home to stop his arrest,” said Mr John Barasa.
Anti-riot police put out a bonfire lit on Kitale-Eldoret Road by supporters of Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya on May 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
Kiminini Sub County Police Commander John Onditi confirmed that a report of the violent incident and destruction of the five vehicles had been made.
“A report was made that Monday, and the Traffic department towed the vehicles to Kitale Police Station, and the investigation is ongoing,” Onditi told Daily Nation.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations on Tuesday revealed that detectives had initiated a thorough investigation into the Monday violent incident, terming it an obstruction of EACC officers while on duty.
The search at Governor Natembeya’s residence was conducted in the presence of some family members, the County Attorney, and legal representatives.
Commotion at Governor Natembeya's home in Kitale as locals react to raid by armed officers
A DCI probe report also indicated that the rowdy residents who had camped outside the home to prevent the arrest of the governor overpowered the security personnel.
“DCI has regretted the violent incident as sleuths continue with investigations to bring to book those who caused damage,” Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Paul Wambugu confirmed to Nation on Wednesday.
“The investigations are on, but I cannot confirm any arrests by now,” said Mr Wambugu.
Earlier this year, the Trans Nzoia governor had said that he was aware of a scheme by powerful figures to silence him.
“I know these people will come for me, but I am not afraid. I will continue to speak out on critical issues affecting Kenyans, and in doing so, I am not disrespecting the President,” he said.
