Natembeya urges religious leaders who supported Ruto to unseat him in 2027

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has urged religious leaders who backed President William Ruto in the 2022 election to mobilize against his potential re-election in 2027. During a church service in Mumias, Kakamega County, on August 9, 2026, Natembeya argued that neutrality by the Church would amount to supporting an oppressor.

He stated that it is the Church's responsibility to help remove Ruto, as they are the ones who brought him to power. Natembeya's comments come as Western Kenya becomes a crucial political battleground ahead of the 2027 General Election. President Ruto has been actively engaging with the region, including a meeting with Friends Church leaders on August 3, 2026.

The Quaker denomination has a long history in Western Kenya, with a significant presence in Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, and Trans Nzoia. The Friends Church is linked to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's home region. Ruto has also formed the Western Kenya Campaign Caucus and the Western Kenya MPs Caucus to strengthen his political base.

Opposition-linked leaders, such as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi movement, are also mobilizing in Western Kenya, seeking to expand their grassroots support ahead of the upcoming election. Natembeya has been actively involved in these efforts, using public meetings and church gatherings to challenge the current administration.

He recently spoke at a Linda Mwananchi rally in Kakamega, urging residents to accept funds distributed by the State House while maintaining their political choices. These remarks highlight the significant role religious leaders and voters are expected to play in the political contest shaping Western Kenya, where both the government and opposition-aligned movements are working to strengthen their grassroots networks for the 2027 election.