New political group formed as Luhya, Teso and Sabaot eye presidency in 2017

Leaders from Western Kenya, including Funyula MP Paul Otuoma (far right), in a jig during Luhya Unity Forum at Golf Hotel on Monday. Several leaders from the region came together to deliberate on ways of improving their unity. [Photo: Chrispen Sechere/Standard]

Formation of the Luhya, Teso and Sabaot (Lutesa) association has sparked off heated debate on whether the group has what it takes to form the next government.

Formed at Luhya Unity Forum attended by a group of MPs and MCAs at a Kakamega hotel on Monday, Lutesa targets to register more than six million voters and identify one candidate for the presidency ahead of the 2017 general election.

The group was formed in the mould of the Kalenjin, Maasai, Turkana and Samburu (Kamatusa) and the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru and Akamba (Gema) associations.

Alive to the fact that it has to bring numbers for Lutesa to have a bargaining power, the leaders resolved to launch a massive voter registration.

“We are targeting over six million votes in this region to enable us clinch power in 2017 or be part of the next government,” Lugari MP Ayub Savula said during the launch.

Statistics from the 2009 population census and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) show that Western Kenya has a population of 4.3 million people. Only 43 per cent of these were registered as voters in the 2013 general election. But more than 800,000 voters did not turn out to vote.

While reading the ‘Kakamega Declaration’ resolutions after Monday’s meeting, Webuye East MP Alfred Sambu said all leaders from the region should unite to ensure they get the six million votes and produce one presidential candidate in the next elections.

“We have agreed on seven resolutions: first to target over six million people for registration as voters and secondly, to produce one presidential candidate during the 2017 elections,” said Sambu.

Personal interests

Each ward and constituency has been asked to meet a certain target by the closure of the registration exercise.

But the resolutions by the leaders, most of who are first time MPs, have ignited debate in the region, with some dismissing them altogether.

Kakamega Senator Bonni Khalwale said a voter sensitisation and registration drive was launched a long time ago and those hoping to launch a new one are being used by outsiders.

“The meeting was an attempt to undermine the process of getting our target of six million voters. It was sponsored by outsiders who want to prey on the region’s votes for their personal interests,” said Khalwale.

Savula, who was the convener of the meeting, dismissed Khalwale saying he is afraid of first time MPs. “Khalwale should not be afraid of new faces in politics from the region. He should join the new move for the benefit of the region,” he said.

Winning candidate

The issue of fielding one candidate in 2017 also received mixed reactions, with some leaders arguing it is now late for the region to sponsor a presidential candidate for the 2017 elections.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said the region should wait until 2022 polls to sponsor one of its sons to contest the presidential seat.

Oparanya said it will be easier for the region to produce a winning candidate in 2022 because President Uhuru Kenyatta will have served his two terms while CORD leader Raila Odinga will have retired from active politics.

“In the 2022 general election, we will have a neutral ground for everyone, giving new comers a chance to sail through to power easily. We should capitalise on that to support our preferred candidate,” he said.

The Kakemga governor said the community should make plans to front a candidate during the 2022 general election. Savula supported Oparanya’s sentiments, saying he region should start preparing for the 2022 polls now. The first time MP said he will be vying for the presidency himself in the 2022 polls.

But Funyula MP Paul Otuoma, who is also ODM vice chairman, endorsed the idea to front a candidate for the 2017 elections.

Otuoma said the leaders must first unite to address the suffering of their people.

“Our community is not organised because leaders just talk without acting. We shouldunite regardless of our party affiliations to address our region’s issues and suffering our people,” he said.

“Of the 4.3 million people in Western, 1.4 million were registered as voters and only 1.2 million voted. This is our main challenge in winning the presidency. Talking without acting cannot help and that is to exercise themselves.”

Supporting the idea of fronting a candidate from the region, Teso South MP Mary Emase said the Teso and Sabaot have been marginalised by past regimes and welcomed the move to form Lutesa. Earlier, Former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende and former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo had said they will form a new political party for the region.

Voter registration

“We are planning to launch a new party. Marende is the chairman of the planning committee to have the new party in readiness for the 2017 elections,” Jirongo said during the Kakamega meeting.

He said the move by leaders from the region to start a massive voter sensitisation drive targeting six million voters was welcome and they will use the numbers to bargain and form the next government.

“That is the spirit for the community’s unity, without voter cards one cannot vote. We need to have the highest number of registered voters for the community to participate in governance of this nation,” he said.

Marende said the idea to have more than six million voters from the region will help the community sail to leadership easily.

He said the community should claim its stake in the Government after the 2017 elections by either forming or being part of the ruling party or coalition.

“All leaders should unite and take part in the exercise to have more voters registered by 2017. The community should do everything possible to form or be part of the next Government,” he said.

MPs who attended the ‘Kakamega Declaration’ meeting were Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Sakwa Bunyasi (Nambale), Geoffrey Odanga (Matayos), Dr Reginalda Wanyonyi (Bungoma County), Janet Nangabo (Trans Nzoia County), David Wafula (Sabot), Charles Gimose (Hamisi) and several MCAs from the five western counties - Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia and Trans Nzoia.