Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya risks a possible jail term after the Labour and Employment Relations Court in Kitale found him in contempt for failing to comply with orders to reinstate three dismissed County Executive Committee Members (CECMs). The court has directed the governor to personally appear in May and explain why punitive action should not be taken against him.
The ruling stems from a petition filed in October 2025 by three former county officials — Julia Kichwen, Bonface Wanyonyi, and Jackson Amboka — who challenged their removal from office. The trio argued that the governor acted unlawfully when he dismissed them and replaced them through what they termed an irregular process.
In earlier proceedings, the court nullified the executive order that removed the officials and directed that they be reinstated to their respective dockets. However, in a ruling delivered on February 26, 2026, Lady Justice Maureen Onyango determined that the governor had failed to implement the court’s directives, thereby placing him in contempt.
The judge ordered Natembeya, alongside county official Amere, to appear before the court on May 19, 2026, to show cause why they should not face sanctions. Under Kenya’s Contempt of Court law, a person found guilty risks a fine of up to KSh 200,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
Following the development, civil society groups in Trans Nzoia, led by Juma Kiboi of the SEDRA organisation, urged the governor to comply immediately with the court orders. Kiboi warned that continued defiance could expose the county to costly legal battles and undermine respect for the rule of law.
The case now shifts to May, when the court will determine whether the governor’s actions warrant punishment.
