Governor George Natembeya has offered himself up for the unofficial role of the leader of the opposition in Kenya in the wake of a political marriage between President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga.
The Trans Nzoia County boss, who is behind the Tawe (Luhya for ‘No’) Movement, on Tuesday said he would represent the voices of Kenyans against the government amid a weakened opposition in the country, accusing Mr Odinga of using his support base to pursue selfish interests.
A sharp critic of Dr Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza government, the governor claimed that he was aware of a high-level scheme to silence him, but vowed to soldier on.
“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 stated.
Elected on a Democratic Action Party- Kenya (DAP-K) party ticket, the first-term governor has discredited the Ruto-Raila pact, terming it a misplaced priority.
He said the country was on a dangerous trajectory, describing the broad-based government agreement as a “business for a few people in power”.
The former Rift Valley regional commissioner hit out at Mr Odinga, calling him a political liar who has been using Kenyans' political support to push for his personal interest in all of Kenya’s election cycles.
“Raila did wrong to join this government because it tells a lot about what he believes in. He has had handshakes since the Moi regime, and nothing better came out of it. Even in the handshake with Ruto, Kenyans' problems will not be solved,” he said.
He said he has offered himself to speak for Kenyans on issues affecting them, stating that he would continue to actively criticize the ruling regime.
“I have decided to offer myself to speak on behalf of Kenyans, and I will not fear because it is the right thing to do. We have very serious cross-cutting issues affecting Kenyans,” he said while distributing free seed to small-scale farmers in the Sikhendu area under his Fukuza Njaa (chase hunger) initiative.
The Tawe Movement leader said he does not disrespect the President but is offering himself as an alternative voice for the people of Kenya and a critic of bad governance.
“I respect the President, and he even knows that. But what I am doing is just to speak for the people and the unfolding poor leadership in the country. This does not mean that I am undermining the Presidency,” he said.
Among others, Mr Natembeya cited the new Competence-based Curriculum (CBC), the new medical scheme, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the high cost of living as critical issues that the government must address.
In a recent interview with Nation.Africa, Mr Natembeya regretted the trend of opposition parties entering into pacts with the ruling party, terming it as dangerous and undermining the opposition as an alternative voice of the people.
“We must be worried about this trend and push to ensure the space for the opposition is protected by law. If every election loser joins the government, then Kenyans will not have a platform to voice their concerns against the government,” he said in a March 5 interview, while receiving supporters who ditched the Ford Kenya party to join the DAP-K party.
Last Saturday, Mr Natembeya called on the national government to ensure equitable support for all farmers across the country, highlighting the disparities in benefits received in different agricultural sectors.
While coffee, tea, and sugarcane farmers are reaping bonuses from their output, he noted that maize farmers continue to struggle without similar support.
Mr Natembeya has also emphasized the importance of the North Rift Region as Kenya's food basket, expressing concern that farmers who feed the country are not receiving the recognition and support they deserve in terms of enhanced government subsidies on farming products such as fertilizers, farm machinery, and seeds to reduce production costs and lower food prices nationwide.
