Natembeya brings Bumula to a standstill during empowerment drive
By Mabonga Makhanu, May 10, 2026Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has brought Bumula Constituency to a standstill as he joins area Member of Parliament Wanami Wamboka for an empowerment drive.
In photos shared by Natembeya’s press team and reposted by Wamboka himself on Sunday, May 10, 2026, Natembeya is seen traversing Bumula Constituency with a large entourage heading to the venue of the empowerment drive.
“Karibu Bumula, Governor George Natembeya. Leo ni Leo!”
The event is set to attract several politicians from the opposition, led by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo, and others.
This comes at a time when the two leaders, who are both elected members on the Democratic Action Party (DAP-K) ticket, have maintained their position in the opposition. Wamboka, who was recently ousted from the Parliamentary Investments Committee (PIC), has in the recent past aligned himself more with the Sifuna-led Linda Mwananchi team.
Just like Natembeya, who has been highly critical of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Wamboka has also, following his removal from PIC, gone full throttle on the Ford Kenya leader, accusing him of being behind his committee chairmanship loss.
He recently came out during a public event in his constituency, directing attacks at Wetang’ula and warning that the Speaker has resorted to targeting his own kinsmen who are politically weaker.
Natembeya’s battle for kingpinship
This also comes at a time when Natembeya is establishing himself as the Luhya spokesperson and a representative of the community at the national level.
In 2025, he toured various parts of the region seeking blessings from different communities to endorse him as their spokesman.
The first stop was at Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s Sabatia backyard, where he was symbolically endorsed as a community spokesman.
He then proceeded to the Wanga Kingdom, where elders linked to the Nabongo lineage also endorsed him and gave him blessings to represent the community at the national level.
He also visited the Teso community in Busia County, where he received similar blessings and endorsement as the Western region spokesman.
These tours were expected to culminate in a regional event at Bukhungu Stadium, where he was to be officially endorsed in the presence of other United Opposition leaders, but the event never took place.
Natembeya has been outspoken on the social ills and long-standing historical injustices that he says have been meted out on the Luhya people, insisting that 2027 is their time to express their political will and vote for one of their own.
Natembeya-Sifuna dominance
On the question of whether Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s influence will hamper or dim his political aspirations, Natembeya dismissed such claims, stating that although he and Sifuna advocate for similar issues, they operate in different political spaces.
According to him, Sifuna is more active on the national platform, while he is focused on the Western region.
Natembeya also announced that he will defend his Trans Nzoia gubernatorial seat in 2027 while also taking part in national politics to ensure the region secures representation at both levels.