George Natembeya, gubernatorial aspirant for DAP-K, has received a boost after teachers drawn from Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Kenya Union of Teachers (KNUT) vowed to support him fully in the next general election.
Teachers from KNUT, led by Executive Secretary, George Wanjala and Wilberfoce Wamalwa, said they had thrown their weight behind Natembeya’s ambition to redeem the image of Trans Nzoia and transform it into a performing county.
The teachers accused the Ford Kenya administration of a poor developmental record in the past ten years that Governor Patrick Khaemba has been in power compared to other counties which receive similar funds like Trans Nzoia.
Their colleagues from KUPPET, led by their treasurer Maxwell Nyangeri and his assistant Jenny Mutama, have agreed unanimously to usher in Natembeya as the second governor.
Addressing teachers drawn from the two union organizations, Natembeya said teachers will be included in his administration in case he wins in the August 9 polls.
Natembeya asked the voters to allow him to pick the deputy of his choice from the Sabaot community. He went forward to promise to strengthen the ethics, governance, and accountability systems within the county to ensure an effective government for economic growth and social welfare.
The former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner pointed out some key areas where his administration will focus, including improving service delivery to the people, better management of public finances, improving transparency and accountability in governance, working with the national government to enhance peace and security, and entrenching devolution up to the village level.
He also assured residents that he will promote local industry by making agriculture more competitive and assisting local businesses with diversification, growth, and competitiveness.
Mike Musungu is a reporter at Radio Simba in Bungoma and a correspondent of Trans Nzoia County for the Western Kenya Times.