Trans Nzoia County governor George Natembeya has distanced himself from the eviction notice for residents from the controversial 3,2700 acres of land belonging to Kitale Main Prisons in the outskirts of Kitale town.
The government planned to use the section of the land to build 10,000 units of affordable housing.
Speaking on Sunday, February 11, at a fundraiser at St. Andrew Kaggwa Catholic church in Kwanza Constituency, the county boss said he is not in any involvement in the coming demolitions and notice of eviction for the residents at the Prison’s land.
“I now hear meetings converging that I told the president to demolish and take people out is the Prison’s land. I want to say that I don’t advise President William Ruto. There are institutions in place including the cabinet and the deputy president. Any utterance by the president is not an outburst, people should respect the president. The affordable housing program is a national Government project, neither are there returns I get nor the county of Trans Nzoia. It is a national government agenda,” said Natembeya.
Governor Natembeya stated that the ongoing hearsay about him on eviction and demolition by the Kenya Kwanza administration in the county was their plan.
Why Natembeya distances himself from Ruto’s housing plan
He revealed that Ruto’s visit to the county in January 2024 was based on his request during the governor’s summit with the president at the statehouse, but KK leaders planned the visit without involving him.
“The president earlier told me he will be in Trans Nzoia in January during the summit. But his people went ahead and planned, the president was in Kaptega, Molem and other places. I was not involved at all. You can go ahead and plan the matters of the president I will join you later.” The county boss said.
During his visit to the county early this year, the president sent a warning to the land grabbers, which Governor Natembeya say is a proposal from the people chanting in support of the president’s efforts to restore the government’s land under grabbers.
“During the president’s visit at the Buspark, where there were more than 4,000 residents of Trans Nzoia. He said those people who have grabbed the main Prison’s land of 3,2700 acres should do the famous three options the president said. It is not my words, but those of the president. I’m not involved anywhere as Senator Allan Chesang says. It is thus the plan of the Kenya Kwanza people,” Governor Natembeya added.
In further defending his people, Natembeya said the land grabbers are powerful individuals with influence over the government’s policy, and no local resident is able to acquire a protected land with ease. Further urging the government to have a proper mechanism to ensure common mwananchi know where they are going.
“The rich, people with muscles are the ones taking the Prison’s land not common mwananchi. Those who are in a position of the big portions of land have the power to influence government policies,” Natembeya stated.
“Those who bought a portion one acre, a quarter acre are the ones suffering at the expense of the grabbers. There should be a proper plan for how and where they should go. This is the government’s project I’m not there, it is the responsibility of the government,” he further added.
On Saturday, the speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula, held a meeting with the residents and land owners of the disputed land at the Kitale club, where he assured residents of a proper eviction by the government.
How many Kitale residents will be evicted from prison land
Over 3000 families affected, presented their concerns and grievances, through a memorandum seeking the Parliament’s intervention to prevent their eviction from the place they have called home for over five decades.
” Let us confront it and face it once and for all. We will solve this issue as a government. As your leader, I will have talks with the president and the government institutions to ensure your problem is solved. Do not panic and start leaving Kitale, we need you in Trans Nzoia. There is no one amongst you whose house will be demolished. Even if the government wants to regularize everything, it will be done properly, with civility and care, so as not to hurt anybody,” Speaker Moses Wetangula affirmed to the residents.
Also in attendance were the county senator Allan Chesang, MPs, Ferdinand Wanyonyi, Robert Pukose and former minister Noah Wekesa and former Trans Nzoia senator Henry Ole Ndiema.
Endebess lawmaker Robert Pukose urged the government to solve all lands with disputes in the county, to end the miseries and residents living in fear of evictions and demolition.
Former Trans Nzoia senator Henry Ole Ndiema saying he is among the people owning the land which he insists he acquired legally. While Hon. Noah Wekesa clearly stated that land acquisition should be in accordance with the law.
Other leaders in attendance include National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, Host MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi, Senator Allan Chesang, County MP Lillian Chebet Siyoi and MPs Robert Pukose (Endebess).
Also James Gakuya (Embakasi North), Johanna Ngeno (Emurua Dikir), Julius Rutto (Kesses), Rachel Nyamai (Kitui South), Onesmus Ngogoyo (Kajiado North), Samuel Parashina (Kajiado South), John Mukunji (Manyatta), Patrick Simiyu (Cherangany), Maurice Bisau (Kiminini), John Waluke (Sirisia), Samuel Moroto (Kapenguria), Catherine Wambilianga (Bungoma County MP), MCAs among others.
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