Wetang’ula quest to lead the Luhya causes political ripples

By GRACE WEKESA

The move by Senate Leader of Minority Moses Wetang’ula to spread his political wings across the wider Luhya nation has generated excitement as well as resistance among political players in the region.   

With political bigwigs such as former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and former Vice-President Moody Awori out of Parliament and vocal legislators Bonny Khalwale, Ababu Namwamba currently in his corner, Wetang’ula is having a field day in pushing the agenda of Kenya’s second largest community.  

Last weekend, Wetang’ula made public his intentions when he called upon the people of Busia, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia and Vihiga counties to team up with their Bungoma counterparts, who are already under his grip, to form a formidable political bloc. The Bungoma Senator was speaking during the burial of Musavini Nambwa, the Malava constituency Orange Democratic Movement chairman.

So far, the Ford-Kenya party leader has won over the support of members of his Bukusu sub-tribe, but is yet to make in-roads to other counties inhabited by the Luhya, namely Kakamega, Busia and Vihiga.

“I will defend interests of the Luhya and I will form the last line of their defence. President Uhuru and DP William Ruto, for instance, got the support of their communities at the ballot last year. Their numbers mattered then, but ours will matter even more in 2017,’’ said Wetang’ula while addressing mourners in Malava, Kakamega County.

Since the Ford-Kenya leader won the senatorial by-election, his popularity has grown and he has been fashioning and branding himself as the Luhya spokesman. But this is a discomforting development for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who enjoys huge support in the region and considers Western Kenya his political backyard.

His moves are also likely to attract the ire of Mudavadi, the United Democratic Forum (UDF) leader, whose supporters still regard as the political kingpin in the region.

Elusive unity

However, Tongaren MP and Ford-Kenya Secretary Simiyu Eseli, views Wetangula’s efforts as primarily geared towards uniting the Luhya politically, and not a scramble for the position of community spokesman.

“Wetangula’s goal right now is to unite all Luhyas in Western region. The community has not put its population to proper political use and as leaders, we are concerned. I urge our people to take part in the ongoing ID registration process so that we may be a force to reckon with in 2017,’’ says Dr Eseli. Meanwhile, Dr Khalwale has called upon the people of Kakamega County to accord Wetang’ula the respect and recognition he deserves “because he is one of the most steadfast Luhya leaders who has stood out for us”.

“He has proved to be a leader who we can rally behind. When I visit his county (Bungoma), the residents appreciate and respect me and the same should be accorded to him,’’ Khalwale told his audience at the Malava event. Namwamba echoed Wetang’ula’s sentiments with regard to unity, pointing out that the Government had particularly undermined the community’s dignity.

“Our respect as a community is not missing because we have failed to speak in one voice. If we don’t respect ourselves no one will. For how long will the Luhya unity been elusive? We should shun individuals who have no respect for us. There is nothing ridiculous like saying we are supporting Jubilee because they will bring development to us. It is their role to do so as Kenyans pay taxes,’’ said Namwamba.

And although he urges first time MPs to stop associating with the Jubilee government, the ODM-allied politician is cautious enough not to ask them to rally behind Wetangula. Instead he asks them to rally their support “together”, irrespective of their party affiliations. Incidentally, Namwamba, who eyes the influential position of Secretary General in ODM, also poses a political headache for Wetangula. 

According to Okoit Lok Etyang, a Busia-based lawyer and political analyst, Namwamba stands in the way of Wetangula’s quest for the community’s spokesman role.

“Chances are pretty slim that he will get the backing of all members of the CORD leadership. The Namwamba factor is fast rising and if he gets the Secretary General post, that will either alienate Luhyas from or to CORD,’’ observed the lawyer.

Speaking last week in Malava, Wetangula said: “we (Luhya community) must appreciate the value of our numbers and prove critics wrong that we can stand on our own and make an impact during elections’’.

On the 2017 presidential race, Wetangula said although the three CORD principals are interested, they would agree who will be their flag bearer at the right time.

Last Sunday, Wetangula was to hold a meeting with all teachers in Shinyalu constituency, but he postponed it due to the Supreme Court ruling on Friday about the election of ousted MP Lisamula Anami.

Ford-Kenya party intends to field a candidate in the Shinyalu constituency by-election.

Some months ago, a section of leaders from Vihiga and Kakamega dismissed the planned installation of Wetangula as the Luhya community Kingpin, claiming it does not represent the community.

Khalwale, a strong supporter of Wetangula at the time, claimed the move was premature and would do little on uniting the already divided Luhya community.

He said the issue of Luhya unity was delicate and should not be used to belittle other leaders from the region.

Vihiga senator George Khaniri also observed that the Luhya community was of critical importance to help the people confront their challenges as a team.

He said the community should first take stock of its dismal performance in the last General Election.