Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has said he gave up his lucrative government job as a Regional Commissioner (RC) to confront what he described as poor leadership that continues to keep Kenyans in poverty.

Speaking on Sunday, August 17, 2025, during a church service attended by his allies, Natembeya reflected on his decision to leave the civil service despite the high salary he earned.

“Na mimi nikiwacha kazi yangu kwa serikali nilkuwa napata pesa mingi. Mshahara ya RC na Mjumbe tofauti hakuna, ni 500 thousand, lakini mimi nikawacha, kwa sababu nilikuwa nimefanya kazi Kenya karibu kila mahali, naona vile watu wanaishi, naona vile viongozi wanaishi.”

Translation: When I left my government job, I was earning a lot of money. The salary of an RC and that of an MP is the same, 500 thousand. But I left because I had worked in almost every part of Kenya, and I had seen how people live and how leaders live.

He went on to emphasise that his motivation was the suffering he had witnessed among ordinary Kenyans.

“Nikaona watu wetu hawaishi vizuri, Ukienda kule Trans Nzoia, na ta Bungoma, umaskini unaishi huko, na ile jambo kubwa inafanya watu wetu wanakaa kwa umaskini ni kwamba, hatuna uongozi mzuri na hatupangi siasa yetu.”

Translation: I saw that our people are not living well. If you go to Trans Nzoia and Bungoma, poverty lives there. And the biggest reason our people remain in poverty is that we do not have good leadership and we do not organise our politics properly.

DAP-K faces leadership wrangles

Natembeya’s remarks come at a time when his party, the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), is facing internal wrangles. Recent petitions have been submitted calling for the removal of both Natembeya, who serves as the Deputy Party Leader, and party boss Eugene Wamalwa.

The party’s Secretary General, Eseli Simiyu, confirmed earlier this month that the disputes had been referred to the Internal Disputes Resolution Committee for handling. Reports indicate that the party is now split into two factions.