Why Kenya Kwanza is poaching Natembeya from Azimio

Top Kenya Kwanza operatives are hatching a plan to poach Trans-Nzoia governor George Natembeya from Azimio coalition and have him defend his seat on Ford-Kenya ticket in 2027.

The plot follows claims that former Kimilili MP Chris Wamalwa bungled 2022 party nominations, forcing Natembeya to run on Azimio’s DAP-K party.

The former Rift Valley Regional Commander floored six candidates including Wamalwa (Ford-K), Wilfred Muraya (Usawa Party), Ben Wanjala (Independent), Timothy Korir (Independent), Jim Nduruchi (Independent) and Wycliffe Eshiwani (Independent) to become the second governor of Trans Nzoia after Patrick Khaemba.

The battle narrowed down to a two horse race between Azimio’s Natembeya and Kenya Kwanza’s Wamalwa after businessman Moses Khaoya and retired soldier Philemon Samoei shelved their ambitions in favor Natembeya.

Kenya Kwanza’s chances were dented after its key members who had positioning themselves for the deputy governor slots ditched Wamalwa and backed the former commissioner.

Natembeya won the seat after garnering 158,919 votes against Wamalwa who came a distant second with some 79,020 votes. Ford-K candidate’s chances seemed shaky from February 2022 after rifts emerged among a group of Luhya elders who opposed his candidature.

Bukusu Cultural Council of Elders argued that they were not consulted before endorsement of Wamalwa who was hiding behind Kenya Kwanza clout to hoodwink voters and give Ford-K a new lease of political life.

But National Assembly Speaker Hon. Moses Wetangula is now making every right move to bring Natembeya into Ford-K/Kenya Kwanza fold with the conviction that nobody can trounce the governor in 2027.

Bukusu elders who view the county as the home of Ford-K by the virtue of late Kijana Wamalwa’s influence and Masinde Muliro also want the top county seat to return home.

DAP-K was only relevant when Uhuru Kenyatta was in power but cannot flex muscles against Ford-K with Eugene Wamalwa as its leader.

The new scheme being hatched will definitely send it to oblivion. Part of the elaborate plan also includes Wetangula’s decision not to lobby for Chris Wamalwa to bag any appointment in Kenya Kwanza administration.

Bad blood grew between them after Wetangula learnt that Wamalwa was planning to ascend to governor position and dislodge him from Ford-K’s top leadership and inject in fresh blood.

Wetangula is succeeding in luring Natembeya to join Ford-K in efforts to reclaim Trans-Nzoia while Chris is struggling to politically reinvent himself.