George Natembeya: Retired generals can be recalled

Trans-Nzoia Governor, GEORGE NATEMBEYA gives ESTHER DIANAH exclusive insights into his former world as a regional commissioner, cattle rustling and teenage pregnancies.

What was the most remarkable thing about your first day in office as governor?It was an anticlimax. I went to an office that looked like a cemetery, where no citizen visited because people used to think the governor is a god. You arrive expecting an organised and structured place but then you find a totally kienyeji place. The confusion, lack of structure... There was nothing positive about that place.Trans-Nzoia is a wealthy county, but it didn't quite shine in ten years of devolution. Why?Riches may not count for anything if the leadership does not have the knowledge and commitment to harness those resources. We are lurking behind in all spheres. While other Counties are on their 11th year of devolution, we are just starting.What do you mean?Basic systems and structures on how a government is configured are absent. Even senior government officials don't have a place to sit and work because we operate from dilapidated facilities that we inherited from the defunct municipal council. There is a lot to be done.What kind of manager are you?I have flung my door open. I go to the office at 7am and leave when I have seen the last person at 9pm. I want to demystify the office of governor.What is your plan to transform your county?Trans-Nzoia is a crippled county. There is no strategic plan. We will start with a proper plan, so that we align the County Integrated Development Plan with our manifesto and do a supplementary budget so that all the things we promised our people are funded as quickly as possible.There is no maendeleo in Trans-Nzoia? For me, development is not just development. You can say that the county has developed because you see good infrastructure, but how has that transformed people's lives? The poverty level in Trans-Nzoia is slightly higher than the national average. We want to bring development that addresses the needs of the common mwananchi so that devolution is felt at the household level. Right now, devolution is only felt by senior government officials.What skills do you bring to this job?I bring focus, humility, knowledge and commitment. Serving mwananchi is a privilege and the beauty is I know how this thing is done. I will not be the person to be misled, because I know how the government runs. You cannot come and misappropriate funds here. Misappropriation of funds is a lack of discipline.How does it feel not being in uniform? Do you have a gun?(Chuckling) Those were demands of the job. Provincial administrators go through very intensive paramilitary training. Remember as regional commissioner, I was basically coordinating security in areas that had serious security challenges. But for now, mimi ni raia (civilian)!When you resigned to run for office, you said you would never wear military uniform again, except under "extraordinary circumstances"...If today things go south and the national government calls upon me to do certain things, I will do them, because I haven't forgotten how to fight crime. Under extraordinary circumstances, retired generals can be recalled, so even if I am recalled to take charge, I'll do that gladly. I'll actually multi-task.What did you learn about cattle rustling?People who fund cattle rustlers operate from urban areas. They give them money and facilitate their acquisition of firearms. Some of them are in government and that's why it is frustrating. When you sit on a table to discuss how to eradicate cattle rustling, some of the people you are sitting with are the ones that are promoting these activities. Many Kenyans don't know that over 70 per cent of the meat consumed in Nairobi is from cattle stolen from the Rift Valley.Government people are involved? Look, how one can transport stolen animals all the way from Rift Valley without police intervention on the road? It's a cartel, mafia like. Before they take the animals, they already know who is on the road, you can make as much noise as you want but the animals will be transported to Nairobi.Teenage pregnancies in Trans-Nzoia are on the rise...They are not the rise. They have always been high. We focus on pastoral areas where we think people marry young girls, but the situation here is worse. We have girls who have never gone to school so they are never captured in government statistics. I want to encourage my government to look at bursary as a development expenditure, to eradicate teenage pregnancies and issues of girls dropping out of school.Some farmers in your county are binning maize farming for sugarcane and high value export crops such as avocado. Who then will feed Kenya?The farmer in trans-nzoia and Bungoma is a person in dilemma. People have been moving from one crop to another because of lack of returns. We need to have a minimum guaranteed return for maize farmers.How do you intend to support farmers in your county?We will lobby the national government for more in terms of fertilizer subsidy to support small scale farmers. Large scale farmers need improved road infrastructure. Roads here are terrible.Do you see Kenyans electing a governor into president in say 2033? The governorship should be a leadership reservoir where Kenyans can say, this person led a particular county very well, therefore, we can try him at the national level. If devolution is allowed, as envisioned in the constitution, this is where country leaders should be made.Unlike most public servants, you were very accessible to the press. Why?I recognize the media as very important partners. The media keeps you in check, holds you to account and raises issues with you. In terms of security, people trust the media more. I look at the media as partners in all that I do.Some leaders say the provincial administration runs counter to devolution...Problem is, we have governors who don't want to share the limelight and county commissioners who unnecessarily want to prove that they are equal to the governors. Governors and county commissioners can never be equal.What were your saddest moments as a provincial administrator?When floods flattened an entire town in west Pokot, taking away a police station and firearms. My officers lost lives. We saved one girl after three days. She was completely submerged in mud. Another is when our police officers were killed by bandits. One officer was shot in the head, and he became an invalid.