Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya was among leaders who failed to attend Madaraka Day celebrations on Sunday June 1, 2025 in Kitale.

The Trans Nzoia Madaraka Day event was held at Lesos Primary School in Kitale as Governor Natembeya, and his deputy, Philomena Kapkory, were absent.

At the same time, the governor and his deputy were not present at the main national event at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County.

Governor Natembeya was represented by the county’s Health Clinical Health Committee CEC, Sam Ojwang, who was visibly shocked by the crowd’s mass walkout when the County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi was about to read out President William Ruto’s speech.

Reports indicate that residents chose not to listen to President Ruto’s Madaraka Day speech due to an alleged fallout between the Kenya Kwanza government and Governor Natembeya.

Earlier in May 2025, Natembeya was arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), over allegations of conflict of interest and unlawful acquisition of public property, contrary to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003.

Meanwhile, during the police raid on the home of Natembeya in Kitale on May 19, 2025, residents and the governors’ supporters fired back at the EACC officers by destroying their cars.

Later, the Anti-Corruption Court at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi released Governor Natembeya on a bond of Ksh1 million and barred him from office for 60 days.

However, in his speech at Kiminini before the Madaraka Day celebrations, he claimed that the reason for him not attending the national event was lack of a meaningful authority in his role.

“At the moment, I hold no position of power, so why should I attend celebrations of authority?” Natembeya said.