Keep off Kakamega politics, Barasa now warns Natembeya

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has told Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya to keep off Kakamega, accusing him of meddling in affairs of other governors, causing unrest and demeaning his colleagues in the Western region.

Barasa dismissed Natembeya’s political move terming it as pure manipulation and empty populism.

Speaking in Malava Constituency during the Last Mile Connectivity where over 100 households were connected with electricity in partnership with the National government, Barasa dared Natembeya to come back to Kakamega for a political contest, urging him to concentrate on his county.

“I want to tell Natembeya that he should respect his fellow governors, including me,” said Barasa.

He added, “Natembeya is overrated, he should stop meddling in other people’s and the county’s affairs and instead he should focus on his county. I want to dare him to repeat what he did because I will tackle him bare knuckle.”

Barasa maintained that the Kakamega and Western region is locked under the broad-based government.

Governor Barasa’s sentiments come a day after Natembeya, in the company of opposition leaders led by former Deputy President and DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua, toured Kakamega County in their two-day Western tour, where he and other leaders accused Barasa of hiring youths to block the opposition brigade from accessing Kakamega town for their planned rally.

Natembeya went ahead while addressing opposition supporters in Kakamega town to campaign for former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala to take over the governorship seat from Barasa, besides rallying the region to do away with National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

However, Barasa dismissed the opposition tour in the Western region, stating that the leaders are promoting tribal and divisive politics.“I have seen the opposition leaders traversing our region, the opposition has no agenda and it is only preaching tribalism, chaos and division among Kenyans and they will not go anywhere,” said Barasa.

A month ago, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka blamed Natembeya of staging protests and instability in Bungoma during the demonstrations against the leasing of Trans Nzoia Sugar Company.