Nairobi, November 26- Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya says his official security detail was abruptly withdrawn late on November 25, 2025 a move he has condemned as unconstitutional, alarming, and politically motivated.
The withdrawal comes just days after a violent incident at a campaign rally in Chwele Ward, Kabuchai Constituency, where masked assailants stormed the event, fired gunshots, and released tear gas, forcing Natembeya and other attendees to flee. Several vehicles in his convoy were damaged, and a house belonging to a local politician allied to him was reportedly attacked.
Natembeya has accused senior political figures of orchestrating both the attack and the subsequent removal of his security detail as a means to intimidate him ahead of upcoming by-elections. He says the decision endangers his safety, undermines his political independence, and sets a dangerous precedent for constitutional governance.
The move has drawn criticism from civil society groups and leaders in Trans Nzoia, who argue that withdrawing security from a sitting governor is unlawful and signals worrying levels of politicization within state security systems.
Government-aligned voices have urged calm, cautioning against making conclusions before official clarification. So far, the national police service has not issued a formal statement explaining why the governor’s security team was withdrawn.
As political tensions rise in Western Kenya, the standoff surrounding Natembeya’s security withdrawal highlights deepening divisions and growing volatility in the region’s political landscape.
