Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya at his office in Kitale townThe number of aspirants eying the Trans Nzoia governorship in the 2027 election is growing after a second woman joined the race to unseat Governor George Natembeya.
Prominent businesswoman Dorcas Nyambura Njenga has declared interest in the seat, becoming the second female aspirant after former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
Njenga, an ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has already decamped to the Jubilee Party of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, on whose ticket she intends to run in 2027.
"I will be in the race to lead Trans Nzoia, and I have the full support of the Jubilee Party. I am ready and set to face my opponents at the ballot," Njenga said.
She has promised to transform the county into an agro-industrial region if elected.
"Trans Nzoia is endowed with rich agricultural soils, and much has not been tapped to turn around the local economy. I will be keen on leveraging in the same to help in transforming the county to be an agro-industrial economy,” she said.
Njenga and Nakhumicha will face Governor Natembeya in the 2027 contest. Also in the running for the top county job is former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa and current Kiminini lawmaker Maurice Bisau.
Wamalwa ran against Natembeya and lost in 2022.
With about eight months to the party primaries early next year, the aspirants have stepped up their grassroots campaigns with each of them vowing to unseat Natembeya.
The governor has already declared that he will be defending his seat in next year’s general election.
Natembeya says his wish is to complete all projects he has initiated in the region and realise his vision of eliminating poverty and disease, among other challenges affecting residents.
“As we go to elections next year, God willing, I will still work with the people of Trans Nzoia as we also seek to remove the current regime from power and save our country from bad leadership,” Natembeya said recently.
The governor has told off his political rivals, terming them 'hirelings sent by political masters" who have no interest in transforming the lives of Trans Nzoia residents.
Before the entry of Njenga into the race, Natembeya had claimed there were three hirelings traversing Trans Nzoia to mislead residents ahead of the next elections so that they end up electing the wrong leaders.
“I do not want to name the three because they do not deserve mileage from being mentioned as those seeking to remove me. However, I want my people to know that those are hyenas in sheep’s skins. They have been sent by the same masters in Ford Kenya,” Natembeya said.
The county has in the recent past witnessed increased political activities by aspirants seeking to become governor in 2027.
The opponents have accused Natembeya of focusing on politics without delivering tangible development since he was elected.
However, Natembeya said he has already launched and completed several projects. He urged residents not to be misled by people who are serving external masters.
“They have been sent with a lot of money, and I urge you to ensure you take the cash but prepare to vote wisely next year,” Natembeya said.
The county boss said he was part of the opposition and that his achievements so far were purely from county resources without support from the national government.
Businesswoman Dorcas Nyambura Njenga
