Why Senator Khalwale is leaving rallies with hundreds of 'lesos' from Kakamega county women

Women in Kakamega County have a unique way of endorsing their leaders and those seeking political office.

While elders in the pastoral communities cover their leaders with hides, special grass species and give those shields or a spear in some, the art of using a lesos is coming out to be prominent among the Western Kenya communities.

Traditionally such clothing were used during initiation ceremonies and were wrapped around initiates’ waists during seclusion period.

Women also had the lesos to cover the backs of the animals either slaughtered in these ceremonies or those given as gifts to the families of those having undergone the passage rites.

Senator Boni Khalwale, now eyeing the Kakamega county governor’s seat has seemingly received the unique form of showing approval from old women and mothers during the campaigns.

The women who show up at the campaign rallies with the clothing tied around their waists end up untying them and have them wrapped around Khalwale’s neck.

The number of those seeking to tie theirs around his neck grows until the senator gets difficulties in accommodating more.

This was evident this week when the senator was on a three day campaign in Malava Constituency, largely occupied by the Kabras luhya group, which is the home of Governor Oparanya’s deputy, Prof Philip Kutima.

Senator Khalwale has also picked his running mate Engineer James Lusamamba from the same area in a bid to scoop some votes from the governor’s basket.

Khalwale is well known for his unique way of mobilizing crowds which grew over the years and one could attribute it to his love for bullfighting, an activity considered a as a cultural practice for the Luhya community.