MP Amisi alleges a plot by state to silence Western leaders

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi elected Vice Chairman of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture at Bunge Tower, Nairobi on March 12, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has alleged a scheme by the national government to silence emerging leaders from the Western, following the recent arrest of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.

Speaking on Sunday at a Pentecostal church in Kitale, Amisi condemned the governor’s detention, describing it as a calculated move to intimidate outspoken leaders who challenge the status quo.

“The arrest of Governor Natembeya is not simply a legal issue, it is a clear attempt to suppress rising political leaders who advocate for the people,” Amisi declared.

He urged leaders from Western Kenya to unite against what he sees as a broader scheme aimed at stifling dissenting voices and critics of the Kenya Kwanza regime.

Amisi referenced historical lessons to deliver a stern warning, quoting Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller, who cautioned that silence in the face of injustice could eventually lead to personal persecution.

“They came for the Communists, and you said you were not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and you said you were not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and you said you were not a Jew. Then they came for you, and there was nobody to help. I am calling on the leaders of Western Kenya to realize that this is their fight too,” Amisi quoted.

He called on the government to respect democratic space and allow leaders to serve their constituents without fear of harassment.

“Opposition is not political hostility; it is a constitutional mandate to hold the government accountable. We are not saying that President William Ruto is bad, but we are asserting that some of his government’s actions are wrong and harmful to the people,” Amisi emphasised.

Amisi pointed to neglected infrastructure projects, such as unfinished roads in Saboti and stalled public services, as evidence of the government’s failure to deliver.

“People did not elect us to be cowards. They chose us to speak up for them,” Amisi asserted.

Supporting the call for solidarity, Engineer Daniel Mukhonge, Secretary General of the Luhya Unity Restoration Forum, urged religious leaders and communities to pray for Governor Natembeya’s release.

Mukhonge expressed confidence in Natembeya’s innocence and drew parallels with legendary African freedom fighters.

“He is enduring what many great leaders in Africa have faced. There is light at the end of the tunnel,” Mukhonge said.

He further called on residents to gather in large numbers this Saturday to welcome the governor back to Kitale, emphasizing the importance of unity in the face of adversity.