Kenya’s political tensions escalated this week following a fiery exchange between Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and prominent Somali leaders, after Natembeya called for the reinstatement of stricter vetting procedures for issuing national identity cards in the country’s north-eastern region.
Governor Natembeya issued a sharply worded statement on Thursday, condemning remarks made by Daadab MP Farah Maalim and Minority Leader Junet Mohammed, both of whom questioned his patriotism.
MP Maalim suggested that Natembeya “does not belong to Kenya” and threatened that the Somali community would take “the DRC way” if provoked, referencing instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Junet Mohammed also launched a personal attack, saying Natembeya “doesn’t even deserve to be a village elder.”
In his statement, Natembeya firmly defended his Kenyan identity, calling the accusations false, inflammatory, and dangerous.
“I was born in Kenya, raised in Kenya, educated in Kenya, and have devoted my entire career to public service,” he wrote.
Natembeya insisted that his push for tighter ID vetting stems from genuine national security concerns, particularly in border regions vulnerable to illegal crossings and illicit networks.
He denounced the use of “genocidal tropes,” warning that such rhetoric undermines Kenya’s hard-won peace and stability.
The controversy comes amid President William Ruto’s recent decision to relax strict vetting practices in northern Kenya—a move welcomed by some leaders as a step toward inclusivity, but criticized by others as exposing the country to security risks.
Observers warn that escalating ethnic rhetoric risks deepening divisions ahead of the next electoral cycle.
