Natembeya: My deputy become ‘big headed’ after Gachagua’s declaration

By Peter Ochieng

Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya is accusing his deputy, Philomena Kapkory of ‘being big headed’ and absconding her duties.

Natembeya claimed that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s remarks at a presidential meeting in Kakamega in August, 2023, could have triggered the bad blood and fallout between him and his deputy.

The former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner (RC) told the Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, that during that meeting, Gachagua declared that any leader who was not present, was not working with them.

“From that day, my deputy became very big headed. Actually, I have never seen her since that time. The problems started with the Kakamega function, which I did not attend. With hindsight, I wish I had gate-crashed the president’s meeting, I would have avoided all these problems,” said Natembeya.

The first term governor elected on the Eugene Wamalwa-led Democratic Action Party (DAP-K), said he was not invited to attend the Kakamega meeting. He claimed that his deputy is trying to oust him from office.

“That statement that Natembeya is no longer with us because he is not here made her believe that she can actually marshal powers-that-be to get me out of the way so that she can become the governor She know the easiest way is through impeachment since he can’t have it through the ballot.”

The deputy governor on the other hand claims that her life is in danger, alleging that the governor is always trailing her.

“She thinks that am still the regional commissioner. I am the governor of Trans Nzoia County. The issues on her personal security is mere hot air. She should understand which functions are devolved. The agenda is soil this guy as much as possible so that when he goes before the Senate, it will be easy for his downfall,” said the governor, while denying his deputy’s claims.

Natembeya has since been summoned by National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), over claims of ethnic contempt against the minority Sabaot community.