The populous Luhya community now has an official spokesman. Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi emerged the most popular leader of the ‘Mulembe Nation’ and was installed at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega over the New Year weekend.
The significance of this initiative, which was conceived of and nurtured by Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli, is that Mr Mudavadi will be the man to negotiate political deals with other communities and political parties for the benefit of the community.
The Luhya have been a laughing stock for a long time. They have been called cowards, indecisive, divided, cooks and watchmen. These ethnic slurs are as a result of our lack of unity.
There are 18 sub-tribes and several clans and sub-clans within the community and during elections, we have always pulled in different directions, dividing ourselves into small insignificant groupings with diminished bargaining power.
We have even been derogatorily labelled the most “democratic” community in Kenya when it comes to voting patterns.
During the 1992 elections, Luhyas voted for Kanu, Ford Asili and Ford Kenya almost equally. This pattern has repeated itself in all the subsequent elections.
Atwoli’s initiative seeks to make Luhyas a cohesive political unit. We want to vote together and create an impact in the governance of this country. Beginning this year, we want all the Luhya votes in one basket.
As a leader and elder, Atwoli knew the right strategy and has shown the way. His critics have cried foul, saying they were not consulted.
But it is neither important nor practical to consult every individual to embrace an idea whose time has come.
More so, those opposed to a single centre of power and leadership for the community are notorious political brokers devoid of any leadership agenda for the Luhya.
They are sell-outs whose only interest is to secure personal gains in the name of our community.
From now on, anyone who wants to negotiate with or talk to the Luhya on any agenda - political, economic or social - must do so through Mudavadi.
Any other negotiations through a different person will be null and void and will be treated and dismissed as disrespect for the community.
If Uhuru Kenyatta or William Ruto want to talk to the Luhya people, Mudavadi is the man to consult.
If Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka or any other groups want a political pact or coalition with the ‘Mulembe Nation’, it is Mudavadi they will have to talk to.
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This is a new philosophy of one leader for the Luhyas at a time. There can never be more than one bull in a manger.
For Mudavadi, the new burden on his shoulders calls for resilience and courage.
He must realise that he has enemies within who could use all the tricks in the book to bring him down. He will have to open up to the people of Luhyaland. He must open a communication line, answer phone calls and cultivate intimate grassroots relations with the common Luhya.
He now has to identify himself with the interests, economic problems, social dilemmas and political destinies of the community.
Mudavadi must portray the face of the entire Luhya community in his leadership and public engagements. He must shun political brokers who may want to destroy him from within by blocking the community from accessing him.
Mudavadi is our project and as Luhyas, we have a duty to implement this project to realise its goals.
Ken Wafula
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