'Mimi ndio nimejenga!' Natembeya threatens court action to stop Ruto from opening Kitale market

Uncertainty continues to surround the official opening of Masinde Muliro Market in Kitale, after Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya threatened legal action to stop President William Ruto from opening the facility on Friday.

Speaking during the handover of a bus funded by the Cherangany Constituency NG-CDF at Sibanga Secondary School, Natembeya claimed the market was constructed using county funds.

He accused the national government of interfering with county functions, particularly over alleged plans to evict traders already allocated stalls at the market.

“Na hii Trans Nzoia ajue hata hiyo bunge hiyo mpya mimi ndio nimejenga, nimetumia pesa za kaunti almost Ksh.500 million, hakuna hata ndururu ya Ruto hapo. Nasikia pia anataka kuja kufungua. Come and open it…” he said.

“Nimekujengea, kuja fungua, lakini ukiweka jina yako na uondoke, mimi natoa na kuweka yangu, maana mimi ndio nimejenga, ama namna gani? Ukitaka kufungua miradi Trans Nzoia, nakuambia jenga miradi Trans Nzoia. Miradi ambayo imegatuliwa, wacha county government ifanye hiyo miradi. Ile ya national government, wacha national government ifanye.”

Natembeya added, “Tuwe tu na mipaka na tufanye kazi kwa heshima, ama namna gani? Sasa unakuja unataka kunibully mimi hapa, na niko na kinga ambayo inaitwa Katiba. Utaniweza namna gani? I can actually go to court tomorrow nikusimamishe.”

Cherangany MP Patrick Simiyu on his side said, “Na hata hizo barabara za national government nimekuwa mstari wa mbele kufuatilia ili tuweze kupata kama hii lami. Mimi sijaalikwa kwa sababu niko opposition.”