Kingpin politics splits Western leaders, threatens push for Luhya unity

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and Cooperatives and MSME CS Wycliffe Oparanya and other Western leaders during Kakamega County school and economic empowerment event at Koyonzo Primary School in Matungu Sub county, on June 13, 2025. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard] With about two years to the 2027 General Election, Western leaders have intensified efforts to unite the region to ensure it votes as a bloc. This comes amid the pursuit for elusive Luhya unity that has split local politicians. The ever-growing calls for Luhya unity have seen old guards and new entrants in the region intensifying efforts to unite the second-largest tribe in the country. Historically, Western has been voting for ODM leader Raila Odinga for the last three years, and an ODM stronghold. In the last General Election, Raila garnered 955,185 votes in the region, while President William Ruto secured 611,475 votes. The March 2025 political truce between Raila and Ruto after the Gen-Z protest was initially seen as an opportunity for the President to gain ground in ODM leader's perceived strongholds, including Western and Nyanza. However, the move has not gone down well with some local leaders saying that the region has not benefited much under the broad-based government, which has led to local politicians to unite in the quest to chart the regions course ahead of the 2027 polls. The battle for the region's kingpin threatens to scuttle the efforts the unity drive. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula have been perceived as the region's kingpins. Seven years ago, Mudavadi was installed as the Luhya spokesperson, but he has since lost favour with a section of the Western leadership. Furthermore, the Prime Cabinet Secretary's decision to merge his ANC party with UDA has complicated matters and led to his fast-waning political influence in the region. However, with the region witnessing the emergence of new parties and political realignment, a section of leaders have started flexing muscles in the fight to control the region. Mudavadi, who is facing political threat from the young leaders determined to dislodge him and Wetang'ula on his side, has few elected lawmakers in his circle. The Prime Cabinet Secretary is banking on Vihiga MP Ernest Kagesi, Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, Hamisi MP Charles Gimose, and Vihiga Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala as to advance his political agenda in Vihiga turf and beyond. In Kakamega County, Mudavadi is relying on Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana, who was elected on an ANC ticket before its dissolution, to campaign for him in the populous county. Speaker Wetang'ula, who is Ford-Kenya leader and has rejected calls to fold his party, is also on a mission to stamp his authority as regional kingpin. In the last two years, the Speaker who has several MPs elected under his party has been traversing the region to marshal a number of lawmakers under the Western MPs caucaus. During an empowerment programme in Khwisero Constituency, Kakamega County on Friday, Wetangula reiterated his commitment to unite the Luhya community to secure the presidency. He noted that disunity among leaders, was the biggest obstacle to Luhya unity. "It is not the people who are divided. We must take responsibility and come together," Wetang'ula said. The Speaker affirmed willingness to collaborate with Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya and Mudavadi to champion for the community's political, social, and economic development. However, Wetangula is facing onslaught from Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya. Oparanya has also joined the list of local leaders who are championing the unity of the region, but with a different group of lawmakers, especially from Kakamega County. The CS who was the ODM deputy party leader before his appointment to President Ruto's Cabinet, is now a common guest of honour in most of the political and government activities in the region, with word going round that he is planning to unveil his own party. Oparanya, the former Kakamega Governor, has managed to win over Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka, Ikolomani MP Benard Shinali, Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, Lurambi MP Bishop Titus Khamala, Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, who is also ODM Deputy Party Leader, in push to become Luhya kingpin and President in 2032. On the other hand, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, who has fallen out with his predecessor Oparanya, has also intensified efforts to control the populous county as Kakamega ODM Chairman. Barasa, who is eyeing a second term, has the support of Mumias West MP Johnstone Naica, Butere MP Tindi Mwale, Matungu MP Oscar Nabulindo and Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe, in a bid to become Luhya kingpin. Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, once an ally of Oparanya and Barasa, is yet to declare his stand on the emerging political camps Nabwera, who is the Secretary General of the Western MPs caucus, said they will ensure the region is united under one party and vote as a bloc. "We are going to have one region, one vote and one party to ensure that before the 2027 General Election, we are going to form our regional party so that we can unite and vote in one direction," said Nabwera. However, Vihiga Senator and ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi urged the community to rally behind the ODM party and its leader, Raila. "I have heard my brother Nabwera saying one vote, one region, one party, but I am yet to be informed about it, maybe I will be informed. However, I want to tell my people to join the ODM party because it is the party that has the welfare of our region," said Osotsi. Natembeya, who in the last year has intensified efforts to dislodge Mudavadi and Wetang'ula as Luhya kingpins, has accused the duo of advancing their own interests as opposed to that of the Mulembe people. The Trans Nzoia governor, who was arrested recently by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged corruption, vowed to remain unmoved, terming the arrest politically motivated by President Ruto and some Luhya leaders afraid of his Tawe Movement, to stop him from uniting the region. Natembeya has accused Ruto and Raila of taking advantage of the community during the campaigns and later neglecting it after the elections, arguing that the region has not benefited from the broad-based government. The Tawe movement has rattled Mudavadi and Wetang'ula, who have termed the first-time county boss a political amateur with little influence. Natembeya is, however, facing internal rebellion in DAP-K and there are claims that the party leadership is uncomfortable with his growing influence and plans to oust him from the party. Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has also announced plans to run for the presidency, and unite the Luhya community. Salasya, the first time MP, has accused the old guards in Western of advancing their own interests at the expense of the people, arguing that the region has lagged behind in terms of development because of leaders he termed as 'Praise Worship' team of the government of the day. Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah who is the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) party leader, is similarly vocal in calling for political renewal as he seeks to run for the presidency. Further complicating the efforts to unite the region is the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), led by former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, who has accused Ruto of betraying the region. However, the emergence of new political formations and parties deepens internal rifts that threaten the unity call. Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party-led by Godfrey Kanoti and Secretary General Barrack Muluka, have broken ranks with Mudavadi and vowed to establish the party as a regional political platform to champion local socio-economic interests. However, political analysts opine that some leaders seeking to become Luhya kingpin lack an agenda to unite the region. "Our leaders lack an agenda; the so-called politicians and Kingpins have failed to unite the community because they do not stand for anything that unites the community," said Dr Muluka. Muluka argues that the region is united, and it only becomes elusive when leaders are championing their own interests. "Economic agenda and development are what will unite our people, and they are already united. There is nothing that elusive Luhya unity, it only comes when a few leaders whose interests are about to be fulfilled," he said. Muluka added that one party will not achieve the calls for Luhya unity if people's needs are not met. "Our people are becoming wiser, and they have seen how they have been unfairly treated by the government of the day and their leaders. The earlier the so-called Luhya Kingpins realised that development is what people want, the better for them, but they will be swept away by leaders who stand for ideals and agendas that benefit them," he said.

Kingpin politics splits Western leaders, threatens push for Luhya unity

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