Police on Monday raided the home of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya in Kitale under unclear circumstances, amid reports that the county boss is under investigation.
The early morning operation was reportedly led by heavily equipped anti-riot police officers, working in coordination with officials from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Tension flared outside the residence as scores of Natembeya’s supporters flocked to the scene, confronting officers and engaging in a tense standoff.
Police had a hard time controlling the growing crowd, with additional reinforcements deployed to prevent possible escalation.
Chanting 'Tawe Movement' slogans, the governor's supporters accused the police of being used to settle political scores, claiming the raid was politically motivated.
The rowdy youth deflated the tyres of five vehicles belonging to DCI, EACC officials camping at the governor's home.
The incident came just a day after Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka sounded the alarm over a possible crackdown on Natembeya, who has recently emerged as one of the most vocal critics of President William Ruto's administration in the Western region.
Speaking in Machakos on Sunday, May 18, Kalonzo claimed that the EACC had been granted a search warrant, in which he claims that the detectives will go search his properties, apprehend him, and then later release him.
According to Kalonzo, the plot to apprehend the governor has been fabricated with the aim of tarnishing the governor's name.
"If you are the governor and you don't toe the line of those in leadership of the highest level, they will send EACC after you, but I want to say that the commission should not be used," he said.
''Governor Natembeya is threatened as we speak, and on Monday, which is tomorrow, they have obtained a search warrant to go and search his house. They just want to apprehend him and release him so that they may embarrass him before the people of trans Nzoia."
On Monday last week, Governor Natembeya, accompanied by several Members of Parliament and former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, was barred by police from accessing the Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County.
The leaders, who had been joined by a team of lawyers, were reportedly on their way to engage management and stakeholders over concerns surrounding the troubled sugar mill when security officers erected a blockade, preventing them from proceeding.
Attempts to reach Governor Natembeya’s communication team for comment on the incident were unsuccessful.
However, EACC CEO Abdi Ahmed Mohamud confirmed to NTV that the commission was in charge of the raid, terming it a routine operation, although he did not disclose further details about the nature or target of the exercise.
