Trans Nzoia administrators ordered to stop saluting Governor Natembeya as standoff with Ruto deepens
The dispute has raised questions over the roles of the national and county governments in the project, including who should manage the facility, allocate stalls and receive credit for its construction.
The standoff between President William Ruto and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has escalated after County Commissioner Allasow Hussein directed local administrators to withhold official courtesies from the governor.
Speaking on Tuesday during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Trans Nzoia County, Allasow instructed deputy county commissioners, assistant county commissioners, chiefs and assistant chiefs to stop saluting Natembeya.
He accused the governor of failing to respect President Ruto and warned administrators not to disregard the order.
“Anybody who does not respect the president, don’t respect. Na kuanzia leo hakuna mtu anaruhusiwa kupigia gavana saluti (From today onwards, no one is allowed to salute the governor),” he said.
The directive comes amid an ongoing disagreement between Ruto and Natembeya over the opening and management of Masinde Muliro Market in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County.
The dispute has raised questions over the roles of the national and county governments in the project, including who should manage the facility, allocate stalls and receive credit for its construction.
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The Masinde Muliro Market project has been under development for several years, with the Trans Nzoia County Government previously outlining plans to complete the facility and move traders into the modern market.
By February 2026, the project was nearing completion, with most of the funding provided by the county government. The national government had agreed to support the remaining works, including an additional Sh56 million.
The facility is intended to accommodate thousands of traders in Kitale by providing improved trading spaces and replacing older market infrastructure.
In 2024, the county government said stall allocation would be conducted transparently. Traders displaced to allow construction to proceed could also receive priority when the stalls were allocated.
However, the disagreement has since shifted from completing the market to determining who should oversee its operations and control the allocation of stalls.
The political dispute intensified after the Linda Mwananchi movement accused Ruto of interfering with a county government project and disregarding the principles of devolution.
The movement backed Natembeya, arguing that building markets falls under the responsibilities of county governments.
Through its head of communications, Pauline Njoroge, the movement said the Kitale facility had been built by the county government and should serve local traders rather than become a source of political rivalry.
“It is important to mention from the outset that the function of building markets rests squarely with the devolved units, and the market in Kitale was indeed constructed by the Trans Nzoia County Government,” it said.
The dispute also disrupted business activities in Kitale on Monday after a heavy police deployment reportedly began around midnight.
General Service Unit (GSU) officers and anti-riot police were stationed around Masinde Muliro Market ahead of a planned prayer service led by Natembeya.
The security presence raised fears of a possible confrontation, prompting traders to stay away from the usually busy central business district.
The planned prayers were instead briefly held at the governor’s office before police arrived and dispersed the gathering.
Later in the afternoon, police reportedly attempted to arrest Natembeya at his Milimani residence, but the operation was unsuccessful.
The developments prompted business leaders to call for dialogue between the governor and the national government, warning that continued political tensions could further disrupt economic activities.
Natembeya, meanwhile, called for traders to be allowed to continue operating from their current locations until the dispute over the market is resolved.
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