Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has come out swinging against Dadaab MP Farah Maalim following Maalim’s inflammatory remarks suggesting that Natembeya should be expelled from Kenya. The escalating war of words stems from recent comments made by Natembeya regarding the vetting of identification documents in northeastern Kenya—a proposal that has sparked national debate and accusations of discrimination.
In a strongly worded statement during a press conference earlier today, Natembeya termed Maalim’s remarks as “reckless, divisive, and unbecoming of a national leader.” He accused the Dadaab MP of attempting to stoke ethnic tensions and shift the national conversation away from the real issue—security and proper documentation in regions plagued by insecurity and undocumented movement.
“My identity as a Kenyan is not up for debate,” Natembeya declared. “I was born and raised here, I have served this country for decades—from the grassroots to high office. To suggest that I should be expelled for advocating for security measures is not only absurd but deeply insulting to our constitution and our shared values.”
Farah Maalim, a former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and an influential voice in the northeastern region, had earlier castigated Natembeya, accusing him of pushing for policies reminiscent of colonial-era repression. Maalim claimed that the call for ID vetting in the northeast unfairly targets ethnic Somalis and could ignite ethnic profiling and systemic marginalization.
“Natembeya is playing a dangerous game,” Maalim said during a public address in Garissa. “What he is proposing is not security; it’s segregation, and it has no place in a democratic society. If he continues with this rhetoric, he should be deported to wherever he thinks he belongs—because that is not the Kenya we are building.”
Governor Natembeya did not hold back, calling the deportation remarks “xenophobic and cowardly,” asserting that Maalim’s outburst is a desperate attempt to inflame political tensions and undermine national unity.
He clarified that his stance on ID vetting is rooted in long-standing security concerns in areas bordering Somalia, where illegal entry, terrorism, and unregistered persons have complicated national efforts to combat extremism and uphold the rule of law.
“We cannot pretend that these challenges do not exist. Vetting of identification documents is not an ethnic agenda—it is a national security imperative. And if we shy away from difficult conversations for fear of being misunderstood, then we are failing the people of Kenya,” Natembeya added.
Public reaction on social media has been sharply divided, with some Kenyans rallying behind Natembeya’s security-first approach while others sided with Maalim, warning against the return of practices that previously disenfranchised communities in the northeast.
Political analysts have noted that the row may deepen existing rifts between central and northern Kenyan leaders, especially as the country edges closer to the 2027 general elections. The confrontation also brings to the surface long-running grievances in northern Kenya over issues of identity, inclusion, and historical neglect.
As the war of words continues, national leaders and civil society groups have urged both parties to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue rather than divisive public rhetoric.
For now, however, Governor Natembeya remains defiant.
“No one has a monopoly on patriotism. I will not be silenced for standing up for the safety of our citizens. If that makes me unpopular in some quarters, so be it—but I will never apologize for putting Kenya first.”