- Barasa asked top Luhya leaders to unite and vote for the winning side in the 2027 election to gain political relevance.
- They must collectively form government in 2027 to prepare for 2032 with one of their own as President, he said.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
All Luhyas will unite ahead of the 2027 so they form the government as they prepare to have one of their own become president 2032, Kakamega Governor Fernades Barasa has said.
Barasa has asked top Luhya leaders to come together and vote for the winning side in the 2027 elections so they gain political relevance.
Luhyas have traditionally split their votes between leading candidates, a fact Barasa says has lessened their bargaining power.
“Western region must start its journey right now, we cannot lead if we don’t prepare ourselves and in that process, we need friends from Nyanza, Rift Valley and very many other parts of this country for us to have an opportunity at the presidency,” Barasa said.
Barasa was speaking when he attended the homecoming and thanksgiving ceremony for Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera at Mbagara village in Mautuma ward.
The ceremony brought together leaders from Western and stirred calls for unity among top politicians from the region.
“In 2027, we must be in the same basket to show that we are speaking in one language. I owe no one any apologies, but we must collectively form government in 2027 to prepare adequately for 2032,” Barasa added.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula hailed a section of lawmakers who formed the Western MPs caucus, which has been a uniting factor for the region.
The Western MPs caucus is led by Nabii Nabwera (secretary general), Sirisia MP John Waluke (chairman) and Kiminini's Kakai Bisau who is the group's chief whip.
“Our unity has helped us get a lot from this government including the road C44 from Lugari, Turbo, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, which has already been factored in the budget. I want our MPs to continue with the unity they have begun because we can already see the fruits,” Wetang’ula said.
Wetang’ula subtly addressed the brewing war between him and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, calling for decorum in politics.
A fortnight ago, factions of the two camps clashed during a burial ceremony in Trans Nzoia where both leaders blamed each other for the mayhem.
“As leaders, if you have been given a leadership opportunity, it is not yours, it is for the people. Nobody has the right to lead and if you are carrying donated authority carry it with decorum because I want us to walk together,” he said.
ODM Deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya backed the calls to form government in 2027 saying it’s high time the Luhya nation gets a say in Kenya.
“In 2027 we need to form government because being part of government simply means you are going to be controlled and we don’t want to be controlled again in any situation,” Oparanya said.
However he recalled calling Wetang’ula and Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi in 2017 urging them to form one political party in readiness for the 2022 general election, but the duo allegedly declined the idea.
“Senator Boni Khalwale was fronted to be the chairman of the committee that was tasked with the formation of one strong party for Luhya community and the region, but I don’t know what happened. What I saw next was formation of Kenya Kwanza coalition and I went back to Azimio la Umoja,” he said.
A section of MPs from Ford Kenya insinuated that for the Western region to get any development they should be aligned to the national government.
But Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi dismissed the talk saying proximity to national government is not a direct ticket to development, he said all projects must be budgeted for by Parliament.
“As MPs, we have the cardinal duty to ensure we budget for that development and none of that can come here if it is not factored in the budget including the road on which you are talking about. It will not just happen because you are in government,” Wandayi said.