Madaraka Day celebrations held in Trans Nzoia County on Sunday, June 1, took an unexpected turn after a significant number of attendees staged a walkout just before President William Ruto’s speech was delivered.
The event faced several challenges even before the walkout, with notable absences that raised eyebrows. Governor George Natembeya and his deputy, Philomena Kapkory, were not present at the celebrations—a break from the tradition of county leaders attending such national events.
Governor Natembeya later stated that his decision to skip the event was largely due to the ongoing corruption case against him, which he suggested had been politically motivated.
In his absence, the governor was represented by the County Executive Committee Member for Health, Sam Ojwang. However, the situation escalated when residents rejected efforts by County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi to deliver the president’s address.
According to footage obtained by Newshub.co.ke, as Oyagi began preparing to read President Ruto’s speech at Lessos Primary School grounds, the gathered crowd stood up collectively and walked out, leaving behind only a few government officials and members of the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO).
The exact reasons behind the public’s decision to walk out were not officially confirmed, but political tensions in the region appear to have played a role.
The national government’s popularity in Trans Nzoia has been waning in recent months, and Governor Natembeya’s recent legal troubles may have fueled public dissatisfaction.
Earlier in May, Natembeya was targeted in an anti-corruption probe by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), facing allegations that included misuse of public office, procurement violations, accepting bribes, and fraud involving over Ksh1.4 billion in public funds.
The situation escalated when EACC officers conducted a dramatic raid at his residence in Kitale’s Milimani area.
The operation was met with chaos as local residents and the governor’s supporters tried to disrupt the raid, reportedly going as far as damaging the officers’ vehicles.
Since that incident, Natembeya has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of the national government. In his first public remarks following his release from custody, he accused President Ruto of using state agencies to suppress dissent and punish leaders who oppose certain government policies.
While addressing a crowd in Kiminini shortly before the Madaraka Day event, Natembeya offered another explanation for his absence. He questioned the purpose of attending national celebrations when, according to him, he no longer holds meaningful power.
“Right now, I don’t hold any actual power or influence, so what reason would I have to participate in a celebration that symbolizes authority?” he asked.
He further lamented the worsening economic conditions in the country, calling them a modern form of colonialism. “We’ve been lying to ourselves.
I will think deeply before I attend such celebrations in the future,” Natembeya added, indicating his disillusionment with both the event and the state of governance.
Despite the backlash and walkout, President Ruto went ahead with his Madaraka Day speech, which turned out to be one of the longest in Kenya’s history of the celebration.
The speech included several important policy announcements aimed at benefiting the public. Among the key proposals, the President announced plans for a constitutional amendment that would enable Kenyans to access low-interest mortgage loans of up to Ksh5 million.
This move, according to the President, is intended to empower citizens economically by making home ownership more accessible.
However, the walkout by residents during the event served as a powerful message of growing political frustration and dissatisfaction, especially in regions like Trans Nzoia, where public trust in the government seems to be weakening amid rising political tensions and corruption allegations.
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