Former Kiminini Member of Parliament (MP) Chris Wamalwa and the former Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha, launched their bids to unseat the Trans-Nzoia County Governor, George Natembeya.
Speaking on Saturday, November 22, Chris Wamalwa quoted popular Swahili proverbs and the Bible before declaring that his journey to becoming the Governor of Trans-Nzoia County had begun.
"Siku ya leo ilikua kusemezana," loosely translated to ("Today was a day of having conversations"), "and my journey to become the Governor of Trans-Nzoia County has begun today," Wamalwa declared.
During the press address, the gubernatorial aspirant spoke about his view of Trans-Nzoia as a cosmopolitan, which necessitated inclusivity. He stated his intention to engage with all county residents.
"We know Trans-Nzoia is cosmopolitan and we are going to be all inclusive," the former MP said.
While he thanked the Luyha elders for their advice and blessings, Chris Wamalwa emphasized the importance of including the Luyha community, given their native status in the region, before seeking an audience with the other ethnic communities in the county.
In a similar vein, former Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha, spoke about a directive the family had mandated her to represent the entire county, rather than individual wards, as the Governor of Trans-Nzoia County, rather than as a woman representative.
In her speech, Nakhumicha quoted the democratic freedom entrenched in the Kenyan Constitution, allowing any Kenyan, regardless of gender, to vie and occupy any leadership position.
“Na Katiba ya Kenya inaruhusu Mkenya yeyote, wa jinsia yoyote, kua katika nafasi ya uongozi” the former CS stated. This loosely translates to ("the Kenyan constitution allows any Kenyan, regardless of their gender, to hold a leadership position").
Regardless of all political happenings in his turf, Governor Natembeya has yet to utter any response regarding the self-declared 2027 gubernatorial aspirants.
Earlier on, Natembeya vowed that no amount of intimidation would succeed in dismantling his efforts to unite the Western region under a new leadership banner.
