- Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has dismissed the allegations linking him to kidnappings and bodies found dumped in the Yala river during the previous administration
- The governor said he has a clean record and unparalleled dedication to public service, the qualities he claimed endeared him to the voters of Trans Nzoia county
- Natembeya previously served as the Regional Governor in the Rift Valley region under former President Kenyatta
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has dismissed allegations involving the disappearance of people, murders and bodies found dumped in the Yala River while he was the Regional Governor.
Source: Facebook
Speaking during an interview with TV 47 on Tuesday, January 7, Natembeya distanced himself from the allegations made by Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung'wah, saying that his record in public service is clean and blameless.
Natembeya previously served as the Regional Head in the volatile area of the Rift Valley under the former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He noted that his integrity and excellent public service earned him the trust of the people of Trans Nzoia, leading to his election as Governor.
What did Natembeya say about the Yala River massacre?
Addressing his time as Regional Governor, Natembeya explained that the deaths recorded in areas such as Ufa Valley and Kerio Valley were largely due to conflicts between bandits or their attacks on innocent civilians during livestock raids.
“I don't know anything about what was happening in the Yala River. There is not a single incident where the government killed people in the Rift Valley, and in the Kerio Valley which is prone to bandits,” he said.
“The killings that happened, either the bandits fought among themselves and killed each other, or they killed innocent civilians during cattle raids,” Natembeya explained.
The former governor denied being involved in security operations that resulted in the loss of lives, citing political and logistical challenges during his tenure.
“The operations that I led as the head of the region, which had the possibility of people being killed, none of them took place. Because we did not have good political will. We did not have money, and the security chiefs in Harambee. The House did not give us a hand to continue such activities ,” he said.
What did Kimani Ichung'wah say to Natembeya?
His statement comes in response to claims made by the Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung'wah during the recent funeral service in Bungoma.
Ichung'wah accused Natembeya of participating in the operation “government sponsored” which led to kidnappings and murders while he was in police service, especially referring to bodies found dumped in the Yala River.
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
