The political standoff between President William Ruto and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has escalated, with the county boss threatening to block a Sh1 billion hospital project announced by the Head of State.
The governor is now demanding answers over the funding and implementation of other development projects in the county.
Mr Natembeya has also challenged the National Government’s role in county development, questioned the allocation of stalls at the newly completed Masinde Muliro Business Park in Kitale and demanded an explanation for the second withdrawal of his security detail.
The confrontation follows a series of presidential visits to Trans Nzoia last week, during which Dr Ruto criticised the governor’s management of healthcare, announced development projects and introduced potential challengers to him ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The dispute has increasingly centred on who should take credit for development, how projects should be funded and whether the national government is overstepping its mandate in a county where the two leaders are political rivals.
During his first visit to the county, President Ruto accused Mr Natembeya of neglecting healthcare services and announced Sh1 billion for the construction of a new hospital, saying residents should not continue struggling to access treatment.
The President criticised the management of Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital, describing it as a death trap and claiming it had acquired the nickname “Shakahola” because patients seeking treatment there allegedly failed to return alive.
“This man has been running around chanting Tawe Tawe while the county is facing serious challenges. I will not allow the people of Trans Nzoia to go through hell by people who have no regard for life or plan for development,” Dr Ruto said during a visit to Kiminini.
President William Ruto in Kitale town in Saboti Constituency, Trans Nzoia County.
Photo credit: PCS
He accused the governor of prioritising political opposition over service delivery and said his administration would intervene to address development challenges in the county.
“As a leader of a government, you plan for health, not for the burial of your people. We are not going to allow this to continue, and I am coming on Friday to launch the new hospital to help the people of Trans Nzoia,” he said.
Dr Ruto also introduced potential challengers to Mr Natembeya in the 2027 elections, including Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau, former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa and Susan Nakhumicha, Kenya’s representative to the United Nations.
He criticised former President Uhuru Kenyatta , accusing him of failing to deliver during his tenure and sponsoring opponents of the current administration. He also dismissed the united opposition as lacking a development agenda and manifesto.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang and other leaders allied to Dr Ruto joined the criticism, pledging to mobilise voters to defeat the governor in 2027.
Mr Natembeya’s response has focused on the funding and implementation of projects announced by the President, as well as what he considers interference by the National Government in county responsibilities.
The governor has questioned the proposed hospital project, arguing that existing health facilities should be strengthened rather than launching another facility without clear funding arrangements.
He has also challenged the budget for a proposed stadium project, saying he could not trace the allocation for the Sh1.9 billion undertaking.
Mr Natembeya said securing land for the hospital had been difficult. He also accused the National Government of taking credit for the construction of the Kitale modern market despite, he claimed, not contributing to its development.
Speaking at a burial in Birunda village, Kinyoro Ward, on Saturday, the governor vowed to be present at Masinde Muliro Business Park on Monday to ensure stalls were allocated to genuine traders. He alleged that outsiders could benefit at the expense of local businesspeople.
The dispute follows the handover of the market to the National Government by the county administration, which cited financial constraints.
During his Friday tour, Dr Ruto said the National Government had spent close to Sh1 billion on the facility. He directed Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Hussein Allaso to prioritise the allocation of stalls to more than 1,500 traders who had been displaced to pave the way for construction.
The President also gave each of the 1,500 traders Sh10,000 to support their businesses, amounting to Sh15 million.
During his third visit to Trans Nzoia last Friday, Dr Ruto announced that the National Government would take over the completion of Kitale Stadium, blaming the county administration for failing to finish the project.
“While I have constructed 32 stadia across the country, your stadium has stalled for years. Your governor has been unable to complete it, and I will now take over and complete it for you,” he said.
Mr Natembeya, however, questioned the funding arrangements, saying he had approved discussions with Kenya Defence Forces officers on completing the stadium using National Government funds.
He claimed construction had not started because he had refused to submit politically to the President.
Dr Ruto also said the new hospital would be completed within eight months. The proposed facility is expected to have 300 beds, 32 intensive care and high-dependency unit beds, four operating theatres, emergency and outpatient services, radiology and laboratory facilities, maternity and newborn services, and surgical wards.
The President launched road projects intended to improve access to Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital, including the road linking the facility to Kitale town.
Other projects highlighted during the tour included affordable housing at Maili Tatu in Saboti, a hostel at Kitale National Polytechnic, a housing project at Kitale Medium Prison and a tuition block at Kitale Medical Training College.
Dr Ruto cited allocations of Sh18 billion for tarmacking more than 270 kilometres of roads, Sh7 billion for the expansion and resurfacing of the Maili Tisa-Kitale road, Sh190 million for the ongoing Kiminini modern market and Sh1.5 billion for 15 modern markets in the county.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya speaks to journalists at a past event. He has claimed that his security officers were withdrawn hours after President William Ruto toured the county.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
He also cited Sh17 billion for affordable housing and student hostels, alongside Sh10 billion for rural electrification.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula urged residents to support the President’s re-election bid, citing projects in agriculture, roads and the sugar sector. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi dismissed newly formed opposition parties, while National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah accused Mr Natembeya of presiding over a failing health system.
Mr Natembeya said he had not received formal written notification explaining the reasons for the withdrawal. He described security as a right rather than a privilege.
The governor linked the decision to his political differences with the National Government, alleging that the administration was unhappy with his criticism of its policies. The allegation has not been independently established.
To support his argument, Mr Natembeya cited a May 2025 High Court ruling by Justice Lawrence Mugambi concerning the withdrawal of security from several governors, including Ochilo Ayacko, Gladys Wanga, James Orengo, Anyang’ Nyong’o and Simba Arati.
In the ruling, the court found that withdrawing security without prior written notice, an opportunity to be heard and written reasons violated Article 47 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to fair administrative action.
Despite the escalating tensions, Mr Natembeya said he would welcome President Ruto during official functions but would not accompany him on United Democratic Alliance political campaigns or join the party.
The rivalry was also on display on Friday during the burial of Senior Assistant Inspector-General of Police Lazarus Simiyu Opicho at Maili Saba.
The President’s development tour coincided with a visit by the Linda Mwananchi team, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Mr Natembeya, turning the funeral into a flashpoint for political confrontation.
Chants of “Wantam”, led by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, disrupted proceedings, preventing Mr Natembeya and Mr Sifuna from addressing mourners.
The master of ceremonies, Dr Masoud Mwinyi, a principal deputy to the Deputy Inspector-General of the Administration Police Service, curtailed speeches after Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale spoke.
Mr Sifuna said he had attended the funeral to mourn a relative rather than engage in politics, although he also criticised the government. He proposed that affordable housing units could be converted into accommodation for police officers if he became President.
Deputy Inspector-General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli warned against political mobilisation at funerals, while Deputy Inspector-General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat paid tribute to the deceased and condemned acts of goonism.
Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga raised concerns over the withdrawal of Mr Natembeya’s security detail, warning of serious consequences if the governor’s safety was compromised. He also alleged that opposition leaders had been denied access and roughly handled.
Later, after the President had left the county, police fired teargas to disperse a gathering of opposition leaders in Kitale.
In a statement issued on Friday night, the National Police Service said preliminary reports indicated that public safety had been endangered and the Public Order Act contravened.
Two police officers were injured and two government vehicles damaged, prompting investigations. The service warned that those responsible would face legal action regardless of their political affiliation.
