Asanteni sana! Natembeya tells supporters after day in court

Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya/SCREENGRAB

Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya has come out to thank Kenyans who showed him support when he was arraigned in court to face graft charges.

In a video posted on his social media pages, the county boss said he received a lot of messages of encouragement from his supporters across the country.

“To all my social media followers on TikTok and Facebook, I want to thank you so much for your well-wishes. I got so many messages of people wishing me well,” he said.

Natembeya added that he was shocked to discover he has so many supporters.

“It is very humbling to know so many Kenyans love me. I want to just say I will continue to do good and serve the people as long as God gives me the opportunity,” he stated.

Natembeya was on Tuesday released on a Sh1 million bond or a cash bail of Sh500,000 after being charged with graft.

The governor, who faces two counts of conflict of interest and one count of unlawful acquisition of public property, has also been barred from accessing his office for the next 60 days.

Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki also barred the county chief, a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration, from leaving the country without the permission of the court and warned him against any attempt to interfere with witnesses in the case.

Natembeya was further prohibited from commenting on the case in whatever manner, either in the media or a public forum.

According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the governor is alleged to have unlawfully acquired Sh3.25 million in public funds between January 1, 2023, and April 30, 2025, through payments made by the county government of Trans Nzoia in circumstances that constituted a conflict of interest.

He was also charged with two counts of conflict of interest under the Anti-Graft and Economic Crimes Act, 2003.

The prosecution told the court that during the same period, Natembeya acquired indirect financial benefits of Sh1.12 million and Sh2.12 million from individuals whose businesses traded with the county government.