Trans Nzoia Governor Natembeya: Abandons Masinde Muliro Market Plan

• Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has abandoned his plan to take control of the Masinde Muliro Business Park in Kitale.
• He will no longer relocate street traders to the market, stating his intention was to unite his people.
• The governor had previously vowed to reopen the market and accused President William Ruto of taking credit for county projects.
• Natembeya has also ceased his opposition to the construction of the new Kitale Level 5 Hospital.
• He invited the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to take over the hospital site, aiming to avoid "petty wars."

This significant reversal signals a strategic shift from a confrontational stance to a more conciliatory approach in managing public assets and resolving local disputes within Trans Nzoia County.

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has announced a significant change in his approach to two contentious public projects in Kitale, including the much-disputed Masinde Muliro Business Park. Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya continues to assert his authority over the Masinde Muliro Business Park, with recent reports indicating an escalating dispute with the national government over its control and allocation of stalls. Natembeya has publicly vowed to storm the market and re-launch it, despite police deployment to deny him entry. He has accused President William Ruto of interfering with a project that falls under the county's mandate. This reversal comes after a contingent of General Service Unit (GSU) officers reportedly barricaded the Trans Nzoia County headquarters, seemingly to prevent the governor from visiting the contested market.

Governor Natembeya confirmed he would no longer pursue his plan to relocate traders operating along Kitale's streets into the newly opened Masinde Muliro Business Park. His initial rationale for this relocation was to enhance cleanliness and streamline waste management efforts within the town. Explaining his revised stance, Natembeya articulated a desire to foster unity among his constituents, stating, "I have moved away from the idea of saying that I want to open the market because my intention was to bring my people together. Those who get spaces in the market should work there, while those who do not get spaces should remain where they are." This statement underscores a shift from a forceful intervention to a more hands-off approach regarding the Trans Nzoia market ownership dispute.

The Masinde Muliro Business Park has been a focal point of contention, with Governor Natembeya consistently advocating for its control to reside with the county government. Just days prior to his recent announcement, over the weekend, the governor had publicly vowed to reopen the market and ensure that stalls were allocated to traders who had previously been assigned spaces. During this period of heightened tension, he also leveled accusations against President William Ruto, claiming the President was taking undue credit for projects initiated and funded by the county during a visit to the region.

Furthermore, Natembeya had previously adopted a defiant posture against perceived threats to his personal security. He had openly challenged law enforcement, daring police to arrest him should he proceed with his planned visits to both the disputed market and a hospital under construction on a specific Monday. This earlier confrontational stance highlighted the intensity of the Trans Nzoia market ownership dispute and the governor's initial determination to assert his authority over the Masinde Muliro Business Park control.

Beyond the Masinde Muliro Business Park, Governor Natembeya continues to strongly oppose the construction of the new Kitale Level 5 Hospital. Despite President William Ruto's launch of the project and the national government's commitment to proceed, Natembeya has vowed to stop its construction, even threatening to physically intervene at the site where the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) are expected to begin work. He has accused the national government of interfering with county responsibilities and drawing the military into political disputes. This significant reversal signals a strategic shift from a confrontational stance to a more conciliatory approach in managing public assets and resolving local disputes within Trans Nzoia County. Natembeya justified his decision by stating that continued opposition to the hospital project would amount to engaging in "petty wars designed to send a certain message," suggesting a prioritization of progress over prolonged political skirmishes. This change in direction by George Natembeya regarding both the Kitale market and the hospital project reflects a potentially evolving political landscape in the region.

Lawyers advising businesses or individuals involved in public markets or infrastructure projects in Trans Nzoia should note the governor's shift from a confrontational stance to a more conciliatory approach, which may signal a de-escalation of immediate disputes but also underscores the fluid and politically influenced nature of public asset management and local government enforcement in Kenya.

Source: Reporting based on local news dispatches.