Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has stood his ground on remarks he recently made about Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya, calling him out as a tribalist.
In a response to residents of Trans Nzoia who came to the governor's defence, Cherargei called for the impeachment of the Trans Nzoia governor.
"Governor Natembeya should be impeached for stoking tribal animosity, division, poor development and corruption allegations. These offences are impeachable under the Constitution of Kenya 2010 for violating Articles 10, 27, 73, 74, 75 and 174," he stated.
"He is not fit & suitable to be Governor of Trans Nzoia County BUT suitable to be chief tribal chief mobiliser to practice his tribal rhetoric."
On Monday afternoon, the residents of Trans Nzoia County joined in defending their governor, stating that they would not allow an outsider to tell them what to do in their region.
According to the residents, they had realised that to obtain a seat at the national government, they needed to remain united as the Western region.
"We do not want leaders from outside to plan Trans Nzoia for us. You are telling us to remove Natembeya as governor, yet you do not vote in Trans Nzoia County, nor are you an MCA here," one lamented. "You have your plans in the Senate to impeach him but forget that notion," he added.
Another one observed that all Western region counties, including Busia, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, and Vihiga, had banded together in Natembeya's defence to ensure the region secured a seat at the national table.
"Natembeya is fighting for all Luhyas. Natembeya is at the forefront of fostering unity in all the counties in Western Kenya to ensure that we have the bargaining power next time. That is what people are afraid of."
The governor, who gained notoriety as a police regional commissioner, has faced a lot of criticism from other political leaders for his intense opposition to the Kenya Kwanza government.
During the burial of Moses Wetangula's mother earlier this year, Natembeya confronted President William Ruto, urging him to intervene in the issue of forced disappearances.
Immediately after, the National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah accused the governor of dividing the people of the Western communities ethnically through incitive politics.
Since then, Natembeya's convoy has been attacked several times, attacks which he has alleged are in a bid to silence his views.
