Natembeya Fires Back at Ruto After Explosive Endebess Remarks
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya shot back at President William Ruto after the President pretty much accused his Tawe Movement of screwing over development projects in the county.
Natembeya outright rejected the claims, saying that national government, it’s their job to serve every single one of us, no matter what our politics are.
The governor fired back at Ruto’s comments after the President went off at a rally in Endebess on Saturday . Ruto trashed local leaders opposing his government’s projects and said he was going to make sure Trans Nzoia got its fair share of government development goodies.
Natembeya Responds to Ruto’s Endebess Remarks
Natembeya basically told Ruto he was unfairly shafting the opposition for delays in getting projects done, saying residents shouldn’t be denied the services they pay for because of their leaders’ politics.
The governor said Ruto’s visit to Endebess had been a bit of a PR stunt : “He comes to Endebess, tells people Natembeya don’t want Trans Nzoia to have any developments because of the Tawe Movement,” he said.
“Newsflash : development is for all of us, including the people of Trans Nzoia. And they’re the ones paying the taxes too.”
Natembeya stuck to his guns, saying development should be for everybody, without turning it into some prize for doing the government’s bidding.
Natembeya Says Trans Nzoia Residents Deserve Development
Gov Natembeya reckons the residents of Trans Nzoia are missing out on their fair share of public spending because they’re contributing a big chunk of the governments revenue – through the taxes they pay.
He reckons elected reps from the region should make sure that funds allocated by the national government actually make it to the county and importantly to the people.
Gov Natembeya was having a go at the regional lawmakers saying “The people of Trans Nzoia have got their own reps there who should be making sure the cash from the national government makes its way to Trans Nzoia, thats the whole point of no taxation without representation.” – well this is just common sense right?
He was putting pressure on the regional reps to stand up for their constituents and make real change happen.
Natembeya Invokes Constitution in Response to Ruto
Gov Natembeya still insists that the Constitution sets the rules for fair development and also makes it clear that politicians are allowed to be a part of the opposition – and do their job which is hold the government to account.
He told Ruto to stop whinging and follow the law, instead of blaming delays on political disagreements , because, let’s face it, the law is the law.
“For goodness sake, the President should just follow the law. That’s what the Constitution is there for, to make sure things are as fair and equal as possible” said Natembeya.
He then added that “the law is quite clear on this one, being in the opposition is not a problem. Its not my job to kiss up to you, my job is to keep you in check”
Gov Natembeya was making the point that the opposition has a totally valid role to play in holding the government to account while at the same time fighting for the interests of its constituents.
Ruto Defends Development Agenda in Trans Nzoia
At his Endebess rally, Ruto got stuck into leaders he reckons are doing their best to block government initiatives and strangling any chance of progress in the county – and he’s not holding back.
The President is adamant that his government is dead set on tackling Trans Nzoia’s infrastructure and healthcare woes, and made it clear that a few politcal disagreements aren’t going to get in the way of the region getting its hands on some of the government cash.
“Whatever leadership issues we may have got going on with people who seem to think its fine to just block everything, let me make one thing clear – I won’t have Trans Nzoia being left in the dust,” Ruto said at the rally.
The President also took aim at the delays holding up a new hospital project, with him pointing the finger at lack of funding and opposition to the government’s plans as the main culprits.
He promised to sort out the hold ups and make sure the county gets some benefit from the government’s development plans.
Natembeya-Ruto Exchange Highlights Political Tensions
The exchange between Ruto and Natembeya at the rally has highlighted a pretty major disagreement when it comes to how the relationship between co-operating and delivering services in Trans Nzoia should work.
Ruto laid into the locals for trying to sabotage government programmes, while Natembeya argued that no matter who you vote for, the national government owes it to the residents to still deliver and do so on a merit basis.
The governor defended the right of the opposition to scrutinise government decisions and keep the President on his toes, pointing out that keeping people in check is what he was elected to do.
Its all part of the broader game of cat and mouse that is Kenyan politics, with leaders trading blows over who gets to control the purse strings and how opposition politics should work in tandem with government plans.
ALSO READ : Gachagua Mocks Ruto’s Plan to Import Buffaloes as Kenyans Struggle to Find Milk
Natembeya Fires Back at Ruto After Explosive Endebess Remarks
