Political foes Natembeya, ex-MP Chris Wamalwa reconciled

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and his political arch-rival Dr Chris Wamalwa have buried the hatchet following a truce brokered by retired Catholic Bishop Maurice Crowley.

The leaders reconciled after a meeting at a church in Nairobi, in what sources told The Standard was planned by Crowley, the founder and long-serving Bishop of Kitale Catholic diocese.

Dr Wamalwa, who is former Kiminini MP, lost the gubernatorial race to Natembeya during the 2022 General Election.

The Former MP vied on Ford Kenya party ticket while the governor Natembeya won on Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) ticket.

Wamalwa was picked by President William Ruto to serve as Cabinet Administrative Secretary (CAS) before the court declared the position unconstitutional.

On Sunday, Natembeya and the former MP reportedly met at a city hotel before they proceeded for the engagement with Bishop Crowley.

Until their Sunday meeting, the two leaders were not seeing eye to eye.

Sources confided to The Standard that Bishop Crowley brokered a truce between the two leaders during a meeting that took about 2 hours.

Bishop Crowley said Trans Nzoia county was his second home and he wishes to see it prosper economically.

"Trans Nzoia is my best home, I have always wished it to achieve development to liberate residents from poverty. I want you two to forge a common goal and accelerate development for the sake of the people who are languishing in poverty," he said.

The retired bishop regretted that many families are suffering due to the poor economy and there is need for leaders to unite and work together to reverse the situation.

"I feel for the families who are homeless and languishing in poverty. There is an urgent need for you as leaders to join hands and reverse the situation," he noted.

He requested Dr Wamalwa to support Natembeya's administration to realize development.

"You have to work with the governor for the county to realise development. What Trans Nzoia people desire to see is development and not political differences," Crowley urged Dr Wamalwa.

After the reconciliation, the two shook hands with the former MP pledging to support Natembeya to achieve his development agenda.

"Bishop, I won't go against your wish. Thanks for your advice and I assure you that from today, my brother is going to get my support," said Wamalwa.

The governor told The Standard that the meeting was planned but did not divulge more details.

"It true we had a meeting, which was planned," Natembeya responded in a text message.

Wamalwa is an ally of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and was expected to land a slot in President Ruto’s first Cabinet.

The former Ford Kenya Secretary General was considered a favourite for Cabinet appointment but to the surprise of many, little-known Susan Nakhumicha landed the Health docket.

Sources in Ford Kenya divulged to The Standard that all is not well in the party after Wamalwa failed to appear in the list of nominees to the Cabinet.

"We expected Wamalwa to replace Nakhumicha but it is disappointing that the Kenya Kwanza regime picked a different person," said a confidant of the former MP who declined to be named.

DAP-K leadership welcomed the decision by Wamalwa to work with Governor Natembeya.

"We salute Wamalwa for deciding to support Governor Natembeya and we welcome him to join DAP-K," said John Barasa.