Five-Hour Chaos as EACC Raids Governor Natembeya’s Home Over Ksh1.4 Billion Probe

A controversial raid conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on the Kitale residence of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya on Monday morning ignited widespread protests and raised concerns about alleged financial irregularities within the county administration. 

The operation, aimed at investigating potential fraudulent transactions amounting to Ksh1.4 billion, was met with resistance from local residents, resulting in clashes with law enforcement and damage to EACC vehicles. The EACC's operation, lasting over five hours, targeted Governor Natembeya's home as part of an ongoing probe into suspected financial misconduct, money laundering, and questionable procurement practices dating back to the 2022/2023 and 2024/2025 financial years. 

According to the EACC, the investigation seeks to uncover alleged fictitious payments and procurement anomalies within the Trans Nzoia county government. Residences and offices of several county officials, in addition to the governor, were also subject to searches. The raid sparked immediate reactions from local residents, who took to the streets to protest what they perceived as a politically motivated act of intimidation. 

Demonstrators barricaded the road leading to Governor Natembeya's residence and set bonfires along the Kitale-Eldoret highway, disrupting traffic and prompting a response from security forces. Police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd, leading to running battles that necessitated reinforcements from the paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU).

By the time EACC officials departed, escorted by GSU personnel, five of their vehicles had been damaged, some with deflated tires. The vandalised vehicles remained stationed outside the governor's residence under police guard as investigators continued their work.

Governor Natembeya was in Nairobi during the raid, but his wife, Lilian Natembeya, was present at the residence. According to neighbours, EACC officials arrived in the early morning hours, prompting demands for a search warrant before granting access to the home. In a formal statement, EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud condemned the violence, emphasising that interfering with commission officers performing lawful duties constitutes a criminal offence. 

He reaffirmed the agency's commitment to professionalism and adherence to its constitutional mandate. Mohamud stated the commission's action was grounded in lawful investigations. The raid drew swift reactions from political figures and local leaders. Hospital Ward Representative Erick Wafula pledged to organise further demonstrations in solidarity with the governor, asserting that the operation was unjust. Alfred Wamangoli, a relative of Natembeya, expressed the family's distress, describing the raid as harassment.

Former Defence Cabinet Secretary and leader of the Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K), Eugene Wamalwa, has criticised President William Ruto's administration, accusing it of using state agencies to intimidate leaders critical of the government. Wamalwa dismisses the investigation as an unproductive endeavour aimed at silencing Natembeya.

The EACC maintains its actions are based on lawful investigations. This has ignited debates over due process, the impartiality of anti-corruption agencies, and the relationship between legal investigations and political dynamics within Kenya's governance landscape.