Natembeya Exposes Mistreatment by EACC Officers During Arrest
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has come out to speak about the humiliating and painful experience he endured during his recent arrest by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The governor claimed that the EACC officers mistreated and harassed him both physically and emotionally when they raided his homes over corruption allegations.
While addressing residents during a tour of the Western Kenya region on Monday, Governor Natembeya shared in detail how the EACC officials stormed his houses in Nairobi and Kitale.
The raid came shortly after he was accused of engaging in corruption and other financial malpractices linked to the Trans Nzoia County Government.
Natembeya explained that he had travelled to Nairobi to attend a Council of Governors meeting focused on the National Government-Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
However, the meeting was suddenly postponed, and he chose to rest at one of his residences in Nairobi before heading back to the county.
Describing the incident, the governor became emotional as he narrated how the situation unfolded. Early in the morning, while still sleeping, he was awakened by a doorbell. As he checked through his window, he saw a group of over a dozen men standing outside.
Upon asking who they were, the men identified themselves as EACC officers and stated that they had a search warrant for his house.
What followed was a dramatic and unexpected operation that left the governor shocked and distressed.
Natembeya said the officers entered his house forcefully and began searching every corner. They moved quickly from one room to another, opening drawers and going through his personal items in a harsh and intimidating manner.
According to the governor, one of the officers was particularly aggressive and hostile, treating him disrespectfully and showing no concern for his rights. Despite their thorough search, the officers did not find or seize anything from his house. Still, they went ahead and arrested him.
Natembeya added that when the officers asked an Administration Police (AP) officer to handcuff him, he refused.
He demanded to see a valid warrant of arrest before complying. Instead of providing one, one of the officers lifted him by force and carried him to their vehicle, then sped off to the EACC headquarters without giving him time to contact anyone.
Once at the EACC offices, the governor claimed he was held incommunicado for more than three hours. He said he was not allowed to reach out to his legal team or inform his family about his whereabouts. This treatment, he noted, was both dehumanizing and unnecessary.
“These EACC officers treat people as though they are already guilty, even before any formal charges are brought against them,” Natembeya lamented. “They came to my house and turned everything upside down.
My wife broke down in tears as she watched our home being ransacked in such a brutal manner. Throughout my service in government, I have never had any audit issues.”
He added that it was only later, around 7:00 p.m., when an Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Integrity Centre came to his cell and informed him that he was there to formally caution and charge him. That was the first moment he realized he had officially been placed under arrest.
Speaking to a huge crowd that had gathered in Kitale to welcome him back, Natembeya insisted that he was innocent and condemned the manner in which EACC conducted the operation. He called on the agency to respect human rights and follow due process in the fight against corruption.
The EACC, however, defended the arrest, stating that it was related to investigations into procurement irregularities, abuse of office, bribery, and the illegal acquisition of public funds involving Trans Nzoia County. The governor was later presented in court and released on a cash bail of Ksh500,000.
Despite the legal trouble, Governor Natembeya has vowed to continue serving the people of Trans Nzoia and to clear his name in court.
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