Natembeya: I was warned before attending chaotic Trans Nzoia funeral

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya says he was advised against attending the March 22 funeral in Goseta, Trans Nzoia County, which saw chaos erupt after his supporters and those of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula clashed. 

The burial of Sandra Nyongesa, the wife of former Nominated MCA Phillip Nyongesa, was disrupted after Wetangula’s and Natembeya’s supporters openly clashed and police lobbed tear gas.

Governor Natembeya claims a Ford Kenya MP called him on Thursday, March 21, and warned me against attending the burial the following day.

“The MP told me there were things planned for that day and that there was tension,” Natembeya said during Citizen TV’s Sema Na Citizen program on Thursday. He said the unnamed MP was considering not going.

“But I could not fail to attend the burial of one of my staff as the governor,” he said.

Sandra Nyongesa worked for the Trans Nzoia County government and was a relative of Moses Wetangula.

Natembeya says he was also aware that the National Assembly speaker was attending the burial and that he had allegedly mobilised the youth to jeer at the governor.

“We had gotten wind of information that they had mobilised youth to heckle at the ceremony. But when I arrived, the same youth applauded me,” said Natembeya.

“When my team went to inspect the venue that morning, they found that the tent all government leaders were scheduled to sit in was branded with Ford Kenya party colours. That is why I could not sit there because I am not a member of the party; I sat at the wananchi tent.”

According to the Trans Nzoia County boss, the first person to hurl stones at the podium is known to him.

He has condemned the violence as unwarranted and called for a probe by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The governor said his team has so far recorded a statement with the investigative agency.

“Lobbing tear gas at such an event is completely unwarranted… We are waiting for the DCI to probe the matter,” said Natembeya.

“My assistant and people from the other side (Wetangula’s team) have recorded statements as well. Action must be taken to send a message that such behaviour is wrong.”

Natembeya’s and Wetangula’s supporters have blamed each other for orchestrating the mayhem.

The burial ceremony was the first time in months that the two leaders were sharing a podium. They two have not been seeing eye-to-eye and have openly spoken about Luhya unity and the battle for a so-called kingpin.