On May 12, 2025, an unusual scene was witnessed in Bungoma County when Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya was stopped by police officers from entering the Nzoia Sugar Company. The governor had arrived with several officials and vehicles, seemingly prepared to inspect the facility, which has been at the center of growing public concern.
The road leading to the factory had been barricaded by police, with spike strips laid out to block any vehicle from proceeding further. This created a tense environment as the governor and his team stood their ground, demanding to be allowed in.
A video shared by Kenya News Alerts TV showed the situation attracting both locals and journalists. People could be seen engaging with police officers while others observed from a distance. In the video, Governor Natembeya remained composed but questioned why a public facility was being treated like a restricted zone.
He asked for answers on why access was being denied, especially when many residents have been raising complaints about the factory’s condition. For several months now, there have been allegations of mismanagement, corruption, and poor leadership at the Nzoia Sugar Company.
Farmers have accused the company of delaying payments and producing less than expected. This has led to suffering among local sugarcane growers who depend on the company for their income.
On Sunday, during a church service in his county, the defiant governor vowed to march to the company to demand why the company and PanPaper Mills were sold. ”Nzoia Sugar Factory will not be sold as we watch. When this government exists, we will reverse the privatisation of Nzoia and Panpaper. Tomorrow I will go to demand a show cause on why the company has been sold,” Natembeya told congregants.
His visit to the company was likely an effort to get firsthand information and follow up on the many complaints raised by the community. But the presence of police officers and their aggressive measures to block him raise serious questions. There was no clear explanation at the time about who gave the order or why it was necessary to stop a sitting governor from accessing the company.
The leaders finally bypassed the roadblock and got an opportunity to address the locals within the area.
