Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka has called on the luhya community to be patient and nurture the leaders they have so that they can rise to higher leadership.
Speaking at the Lutacho Friends Church, Lusaka said it was unfortunate that the community had made a habit of bringing down leaders who had matured and had experience in politics.
" Let's stop this behaviour of pulling down our leaders who are ripe for higher national seats, we need to be patient with them, correct them and ensure they compete well with other leaders from other regions," he said.
He said the Luo and Kalenjin communities had nurtured both former prime minister Raila Odinga and deputy President William Ruto to the national leaders they are now.
He gave an example of himself and Bungoma senator Moses Wetang'ula who he said have been in public service for close to 30 years saying they were now better placed to cut a niche in the Kenyan political circles.
Lusaka called on other leaders from the region to work together saying the unity of the Mulembe nation will ensure a better bargaining power.
He said he was currently working with Wetang'ula despite the senator having fought him in the previous elections.
"I decided to bury the hatchet with my brother Wetang'ula so that we can work for the good of our community. I don't know why others are crying more than the bereaved," Lusaka said.
The Senate speaker who has declared his candidature for Bungoma governor said he had decided to vie for the seat after pressure from residents who wanted him back.
"I lost the seat and went to Nairobi to go on with my business, but due to pressure and suffering of our people, I will come back home to complete the work that we started," he said.
Lusaka urged residents to vote wisely in the coming elections saying this holds their future.
-Edited by SKanyara