Wajackoyah endorses Lusaka to champion Luhya unity talks

Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah during a courtesy visit to Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka's office. [Juliet Omelo, Standard]

Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has received a boost in his push to unify Western Kenya leaders, following an endorsement by Roots Party leader and former presidential aspirant Prof. George Wajackoyah.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to Lusaka's office, Wajackoyah urged the governor to leverage his extensive political and administrative experience to rally the region's often-divided leadership around a common agenda.

"Use your past experience and goodwill to bring the Mulembe Nation together," Wajackoyah said, describing Lusaka as a unifying figure with a conciliatory leadership style and broad-based respect across political lines.

He lamented the persistent wrangling among Luhya leaders, saying it had eroded public trust and undermined the region's development prospects.

Wajackoyah called for an end to public spat among leaders and emphasised the importance of unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

"Political differences should not breed animosity. We must rise above party affiliations and focus on issues that matter to our people," he added.

In his response, Governor Lusaka welcomed the proposal and confirmed ongoing efforts to convene a regional leadership dialogue forum aimed at forging consensus and a shared development blueprint.

"I am committed to playing my part in uniting our leaders," said Lusaka. "We must bring everyone to the table, regardless of their political leanings. There's no reason to insult or undermine each other when we can achieve far more through dialogue and mutual respect."

He revealed that initial consultations with fellow governors from the Western region had already begun and that the feedback so far had been overwhelmingly positive.

The proposed forum will focus on consensus-building, economic empowerment, and joint strategies to unlock the region's development potential.

Political observers have long argued that the Luhya community, despite its numerical strength, has struggled to assert a unified presence on the national stage, largely due to internal political fragmentation.

With the 2027 elections fast approaching, calls for unity among Western Kenya leaders are expected to intensify.

Should Lusaka succeed in bringing together the region's political heavyweights, it could mark a turning point in the Luhya community's quest for greater political influence and economic progress.