Leaders have defended Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba after he was castigated by a section of leaders from NASA for attending Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka’s homecoming ceremony, which was graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto last week in Webuye, Bungoma County. Speaking after touring Namanjala to inspect a road construction project, Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi said President Kenyatta is the country leader while Lusaka is a fellow Luhya leader so there was nothing wrong with the Trans Nzoia Governor attending the function. “Uhuru Kenyatta is the country’s President and leaders have a right to welcome him, especially when he comes to the region,” he explained.
Some ODM leaders led by Wilson Ogallo criticized Governor Patrick Khaemba and urged Ford Kenya leadership to take action against him. He said by attending the meeting, he was passing a message that he may ditch Ford Kenya for Jubilee, adding that he must explain why he attended the meeting.
The Ford Kenya women league representative for Trans Nzoia Margaret Wanjala defended the Governor’s trip, “Governor Khaemba is in Ford Kenya and he is our Governor, ODM party members shouldn’t meddle with our party affairs,” she said, “They should concentrate on their own issues.”
She argued that the County head is not the party leader, and neither was he elected only by NASA supporters but he enjoyed support all across the County.
Her sentiments were echoed by the Ford Kenya party Trans Nzoia Secretary General Martin Waliaula, who said the Governor should work closely with the national government to ensure development is realized in the area.
Waliaula said the Governor has the right to associate with government leaders and said those who criticize him shouldn’t interfere with the state of their party. The President’s trip to Bungoma County came in the midst of an extensive trip to Western Kenya last weekend.