Why young Luyha leaders' unity drive faces headwinds

A fresh unity push by politicians calling themselves new generation leaders from Western Kenya faces a tall order after the drive had a false start.

The latest plan by the alleged youthful politicians has exposed ramifications of the unity government initiative by President William Ruto and Azimio boss Raila Odinga’s ODM party.

It is understood that some politicians from Western Kenya who are unhappy with the President’s latest political strategy to include ODM members in Cabinet, while isolating them, are pushing for a breakaway.

Analysts say that last week’s poorly attended meeting of Western Kenya leaders in Kakamega Sports Club exposed the herculean task confronting the new unity driver proponents.

The highly publicised meeting was to bring together key politicians from Western Kenya to reportedly map the region’s future in the wake of the unity government plans between Ruto and Raila.

Dubbed the People’s Assembly, the meeting was given a wide berth by key politicians from the Western Kenya region including key allies of influential political heavyweights of the Mulembe nation.

Tellingly even those who had attended a preparatory meeting in Nairobi hosted by Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya snubbed the session in Kakamega, jolting the plans.

Those who had attended the Nairobi meeting included Natembeya, former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi and former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa.

Only Natembeya, Echesa and Malala attended last Monday's Kakamega meeting, exposing the turbulence rocking the new boat before sailing off the shores.

There are indications that the snub by the regional’s most influential political figures within the alleged youthful cadre could complicate their fresh push to unite the Mulembe nation.

Political analyst James Livondo warned that the fresh unity push would collapse as it lacks the support of regional bigwigs including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

“The so-called young generation leadership push is dead like a toto on arrival. The miscarriage occurred last Monday when it took off to a false start with many leaders giving it a wide berth," Livondo said.

The History and Diplomacy lecturer said the push faces headwinds because of a lack of goodwill from the region’s big guns and an "apparent signal of trying to bypass and undermine leaders".

“This is an attempt by some politicians to take advantage of the probable vacuum seen after Mudavadi and Wetang’ula settled on their current seats in the Kenya Kwanza administration, that will flop,’’ he said.

Since their appointments, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula have slowed down their hitherto aggressive political activities across western Kenya to concentrate on helping the Kenya Kwanza government deliver on its mandate.

Many view the reportedly botched Western Kenya leaders’ meeting as an attempt by powerful forces allegedly allied to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to undermine Mudavadi and Wetang’ula.

Mudavadi and Wetang’ula are the region’s foremost political leaders from Western Kenya who are working with President Ruto.

It has now emerged that many Western leaders skipped the Kakamega event due to its perceived bias, with plans for a grand regional meeting led by Mudavadi in the offing.

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula said Western leaders will soon organise a major meeting co-chaired by Mudavadi and Wetang’ula.

“The Monday meeting should be ignored as it was convened by leaders who are being used by external forces to undermine the leadership of Western for personal gains," he claimed.

Natembeya, the alleged think tank of the new unity push, attended the meeting and blamed current leaders for failing to lobby enough for the region.

Natembeya, who is the DAP-K party deputy leader, has insisted that there is a leadership vacuum in Western Kenya which he seeks to bridge.

“We are number two in population yet we have never come close to the presidency. If the current Luyha leadership is not up to the billing, what do we do?" Natembeya posed.

“We say no, how come that when we are hunting we work together but when it comes to sharing, they eat alone?"

Natembeya is said to be leading the leaders in charting a new political direction amid jitters across the political divide as the reality of its impact sinks.

There have been claims that some politicians close to a senior government official are allegedly working with the Natembeya axis to advance a new political dispensation in Western Kenya ahead of the 2027 polls.

Natembeya has rubbished the claims insisting that his efforts are aimed at providing Western Kenya region with alternative leadership.

 Malala was last week ousted as UDA SG is said to have fallen out of favour with the party following his alleged association with the DP Rigathi Gachagua axis.

There have been claims that the fresh unity drive was sparked by recent Cabinet changes that saw President Ruto name former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya as CS for Cooperatives.

Those allegedly left out are said to have been unhappy and disgruntled, launching an aggressive push to rebel against President Ruto's action.

Malala's ouster as UDA SG is said to be linked to his move to join the agitation.

The former Kakamega Senator had last Monday while addressing the People’s Assembly in Kakamega, claimed that the new leadership push was meant to evaluate the Kenya Kwanza government.

Malala demanded to be told the region's share in the newly constituted broad-based government where President William Ruto brought the opposition on board.

“We want to interrogate what share of development Western has been allocated in the current budget. We want accountable leadership,” Malala said.

The politicians denied that they were being used by influential forces to rock the Luyha community.

“We have no problem working with outsiders but are focused on pursuing our cause. All we want is to liberate the people,” Malala said in response to claims of being used by outsiders.