Ruto turns Trans Nzoia tour into campaign to unseat Natembeya
President William Ruto during his tour of Trans Nzoia
President William Ruto yesterday turned his latest tour of Trans Nzoia into an open campaign to unseat Governor George Natembeya in 2027.
On his second tour of the county, Dr Ruto launched a scathing attack on Mr Natembeya, accusing him of neglecting essential services and failing to address the challenges facing patients at Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital (WKRH).
The President announced plans to allocate Sh1 billion towards the construction of a new hospital, presenting the intervention as evidence that the national government would step in where he accused the county administration of failing residents.
“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 because of people who have no regard for life or a plan for development,” he said while addressing residents in Kiminini.
Dr Ruto framed the state of healthcare in the county as a test of leadership, arguing that public officials should prioritise residents’ lives rather than engage in political campaigns.
“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.
The President’s remarks turned the county’s healthcare challenges into a political indictment of Mr Natembeya. But the proposed hospital also raises questions about the respective responsibilities of the national and county governments in delivering health services as well as the status of the existing referral facility.
Beyond the healthcare dispute, the tour provided a platform for Dr Ruto’s allies to make their intentions for the 2027 governorship contest explicit.
He introduced Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau, former Kiminini MP Dr Chris Wamalwa and United Nations representative Susan Nakhumicha as leaders associated with the efforts to unseat Mr Natembeya.
Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang, Mr Bisau and Endebess MP Dr Robert Pukose also attacked the governor’s record, accusing him of failing to deliver for residents and pledging to campaign for his removal.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was among those who made the political objective clearest.
“As a resident of Trans Nzoia, I will ensure that we give you a governor who will work with you and deliver for the people of Trans Nzoia,” Mr Murkomen said.
The leaders presented cooperation with the national government as a central test for the county’s next administration, seeking to contrast their preferred leadership with Mr Natembeya’s increasingly confrontational posture towards the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The mobilisation marks an escalation in the political contest in Trans Nzoia where Mr Natembeya has emerged as a critic of the President and an alternative political voice in the Mount Kenya and wider opposition realignments ahead of the 2027 election. Dr Ruto’s allies now appear intent on turning that rivalry into a contest over who can claim credit for development and deliver a working relationship with the national government.
During the tour, Dr Ruto announced Sh18 billion for tarmacking more than 270 kilometres of roads in Trans Nzoia, alongside a further Sh7 billion for the expansion and recarpeting of the Maili Tisa-Kitale road.
The President used the commitments to counter criticism of his administration and argue that Trans Nzoia had not been left out of the national development agenda.
“I want you to listen carefully. As we plan development in other parts of Kenya, we have also planned well for this county. On Friday, I will be here again to launch other projects,” he said.
Dr Ruto also announced Sh190 million for the ongoing construction of the Kiminini modern market and Sh1.5 billion for 15 modern markets across the county.
He cited Sh17 billion for affordable housing and hostels intended to accommodate more than 10,000 students in higher learning institutions. Another Sh10 billion, he said, had been set aside for a rural electrification programme targeting more than 10,000 households.
On healthcare financing, Dr Ruto said 410,000 people in Trans Nzoia had registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), adding that the national government was working to improve the delivery of medical services in the county.
The President also widened his offensive beyond Trans Nzoia, renewing his attacks on former President Uhuru Kenyatta and accusing him of working against the administration despite the political support he had received from him.
Dr Ruto said he had supported and campaigned for Mr Kenyatta but accused the former President of failing to deliver for the country and leaving behind economic challenges.
“I supported him and campaigned for him, but he failed to deliver, subjecting the country to economic debts. He is now sponsoring my opponents in disregard of what I did for him,” he said at Kiminini market.
He also attacked the united opposition, accusing its leaders of lacking a clear manifesto and relying on tribal mobilisation and divisive politics rather than presenting policies to persuade voters.
The President claimed some leaders were mobilising opposition to his administration’s programmes in healthcare, affordable housing and other sectors, portraying their criticism as politically motivated.
“These people are just angry people, but I will deal with them,” he warned.
He challenged opposition leaders to explain how they would address the country’s problems rather than focus on attacking the government.
“Do not sell to us anger, jealousy and division. Sell your agenda to Kenyans. Kenyans will vote on the grounds of the manifesto and plans,” he said.
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Reporting by Barnabas Bii, Titus Ominde and Evans Jaola
