Does DP Ruto meeting with Western leaders dent Luhya unity talks?

Deputy President William Ruto. [Photo: Courtesy]

The Luhya people are getting  a political sense that has seen Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula spearhead unity and it seems that William Ruto is not happy. He (Ruto) spotted the damage this unity will cause to his presidential ambitions and decided to meet some Luhya leaders in his Karen home last week to scuttle the plan.

The telling reality is that if and when the Luhyas unite, that is from Trans-Nzoia to Bungoma, from Kakamega to Busia without forgetting those Luhyas in Vihiga and big towns, then we are talking of over 6 million Luhya votes in one basket.  

This is a vote that can propel a Luhya leader to the presidency with a little addition from the other tribes. I believe this reality worried the DP to a point of calling a few Luhya leaders to scuttle the plans. They were to back the DP’s presidency in 2022 rather than that of a Luhya candidate.

But Ruto’s chances are slim because the Luhyas are tired of backing presidential candidates from other tribes while they stay out of power. Luhyas have been hurt by the Jubilee government and they have been injured in the opposition. This is the reason why the Luhyas under Mudavadi, Wetangula, Boni Khalwale and other like-minded Luhya leaders are cementing the Luhya unity in readiness for the 2022 vote. Ruto may try to kill this attempt, but I assure him he will be the one who gets hurt at the end of it all.

Mr Namuliro is an advocate of Luhya unity, resident in Kitale