The Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations convened in Kitale Town earlier today to mediate a high-stakes confrontation between Governor George Natembeya and the former County Public Service Board. 

This intervention follows a period of administrative turmoil sparked by the Governor’s February 16 directive to shutter the Board’s offices and transfer its staff, a move that critics argue bypassed established legal protections for independent county organs.

The former Chairperson of the Board, Mr. Peter Wamoto, presented a scathing critique of the Governor’s actions, characterizing the closure as an unlawful interference with constitutional independence. 

He noted with concern that the executive action occurred just twelve days before the Board’s six-year tenure was set to expire, a timing he argued was calculated to prevent the completion of a statutory exit report. 

Beyond the office closure, Mr. Wamoto alleged a broader pattern of administrative impunity, citing the executive’s refusal to implement the December 2024 appointment of Ms. Phoebe Namukuru Buchunju as Municipal Manager and the questionable status of the County Secretary, who reportedly remained in office despite a prior transfer to the Department of Health.

Governor Natembeya, however, framed the closure not as an act of aggression, but as a necessary surgical strike against "rogue behavior" and "gross professional injustice." 

He informed the Committee that the Board had unilaterally canceled recruitments for County Chief Officers in late January, with the Chairman allegedly using personal funds to finance the cancellation advertisements. 

The Governor further defended his intervention by citing the improper hiring of eight nurses who had never been shortlisted, an act of nepotism that ultimately triggered a court injunction, halting the onboarding of 134 other health workers and paralyzing the county’s medical services. 

He maintained that the Board had defied clear directives to proceed on terminal leave, choosing instead to continue transacting business he characterized as both illegal and self-serving.

As the offices officially reopened under a newly sworn-in Board on March 12, the visiting Senators shifted the focus toward a more sustainable path for county governance. 

Senator Margaret Kamar, the Sessional Chair, lamented the trend of escalating local disputes to the courts, where narrow legalities often overshadow the broader need for fairness and service delivery. 

She urged county leadership to master the art of internal dispute resolution, stressing that the politics and egos currently magnifying minor disagreements into major obstacles must be actively managed to save public resources.

“Procedural issues in court cases can lead to a waste of time and resources. As counties, we should work to resolve issues internally rather than rely on litigation. These are small problems but have been magnified by politics and ego, which need to be controlled,” Senator Kamar emphasized. 

Senator Hezena Lemaletian echoed these concerns, noting that the friction in Trans Nzoia is a symptom of a wider malaise affecting many devolved units across the nation. 

She challenged the County Assembly to rise above partisan friction and embrace a role defined by patriotism and a commitment to the people.

“Trans Nzoia is not the only county that has such a problem. The County Assembly of Trans Nzoia should take up its role with patriotism and love for the nation to help condone the politics of both the executive and the County Service Board. Let’s not let politics and too much ego sway the service for our people,” Senator Hezena said. 

Similarly, Senator Richard Onyonka emphasized that the relationship between the executive and the assembly must remain collaborative rather than adversarial, suggesting that amicable dialogue should always take precedence over public conflict or political blackmail.

In a final effort to restore institutional decorum, the Committee Members urged Governor Natembeya to conduct a formal, professional transition. 

By inviting the former Board to an official handover ceremony, the Committee hopes to ensure a smooth return to normalcy for the county’s administration and finally unlock the stalled recruitment of essential healthcare personnel.