Natembeya Skips Madaraka Day Celebrations in Protest Over Political Frustration
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya skipped the county’s Madaraka Day celebrations held at Lessos Primary School in Kitale, opting instead to send his health executive, Sam Ojwang, to deliver a speech that doubled as a political protest.
The event saw a notably low turnout, with several residents walking out after the parade. County Commissioner Gidion Oyagi and Ojwang were left addressing rows of empty seats.
Earlier in the week, Natembeya had hinted that he would not attend the celebrations, citing political frustration and his recent arrest on corruption allegations. “There’s nothing to go and celebrate if we still have to suffer primitive actions many years after independence,” he had stated.
In the written speech delivered by Ojwang, Natembeya honoured the country’s founding heroes, praising their courage and unity in the fight for independence. However, his message turned sharply critical as he questioned the direction the country has taken since gaining self-rule.
“But as we honour their legacy, we must ask ourselves, is this the Kenya they envisioned? Is this the Kenya we deserve? Or can we rise to something greater?” he posed.
The governor said the country was backsliding on freedoms that were hard-won, warning that these gains were being eroded by oppression, silencing of dissent, and systemic injustice.
“We must reclaim the freedom our forefathers fought for — a freedom rooted in justice, dignity, and equal opportunity for all,” he said.
His remarks strongly reflected discontent over his own arrest and the investigations he faces. He urged Kenyans to use the occasion not just for celebration but as a moment of national reflection.
“Let this be more than a commemoration. Let it be a renewed commitment to safeguarding the rights and freedoms of every Kenyan, and to holding any government accountable when it fails to serve its people,” he concluded.
County Commissioner Oyagi, on the other hand, avoided political matters and called for peace and unity in his brief remarks.
“Peace and unity are the cornerstones of our success as a county and as a country,” he said.
However, some local residents expressed disappointment in the governor’s leadership, saying the tensions had cast a shadow over the celebrations.
Madaraka Day in Trans Nzoia, this year, was less about unity and more a reflection of the widening gap between politics and public service.
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Natembeya Skips Madaraka Day Celebrations in Protest Over Political Frustration