Why the Wanga have not tasted power since Nabongo Mumia

Nabongo Peter Mumia outside the Nabongo Cultural Center

The proud and mighty Wanga people of Mumias once called the shots, dominating and riding roughshod over smaller communities in Western Kenya during the dynasty of Nabongo Mumia. But they seem to have faded into political oblivion and are today ‘led’ by the Luo, Maragoli, Bukusu and the Samia they once lorded over.

Such is the reversal in their fortunes that they have never been ‘rewarded’ with a full cabinet position since independence. Neither have their sons or daughters held even remotely powerful positions in government, perhaps since retired Justice Benna Lutta - Nabongo‘s grandson - was appointed Solicitor General and Judge of the defunct East African Court of Appeal.

More telling is that the Wanga, who privately consider themselves ‘superior‘ to other Luhya sub-tribes, have never organised themselves into a political party since independence. As a result, their weight of numbers across the three constituencies of Mumias East, Mumias West and Matungu has never been felt either on the political or economic fronts.

Martin Oloo, a lawyer and political analyst, attributes this state of affairs to, clanism within the Wanga community, that prevents them from forming a recognisable politcal outfit. “It is impossible for leaders or locals to speak in one voice. Unity cannot be achieved where clanism is fronted,” observed the analyst.

Oloo, who hails from Mumias, notes that although Mumias Sugar Company (MSC), which is the economic backbone of Mumias and the wider western region, is in their backyard, and the fact that they have highly qualified people, the Wanga have not been able to assume leadership of the company because their leaders are preoccupied by petty squabbles and the quest for self aggrandisement.

The giant sugar miller has thus been managed by people from other communities since inception, a thing that would not be taken kindly in other parts of Kenya.

Nabongo Peter Mumia ll, who is the current leader of the Wanga ‚kingdom, however dismisses those calling for a local to be appointed MD of the ailing sugar company, saying it is a private entity and that anyone competent can head it. “No one has barred a Wanga from heading Mumias company. The shareholders expect good results and anyone qualified is at liberty to be at the helm,” says Peter, a former accountant.

But Prof Amukoa Anangwe, a political scientist, one time Butere MP and lecturer at Dodoma University, Tanzania, observed that the Wanga culture of welcoming and accommodating other communities within their ranks, has made them less aggressive in demanding their stake in key leadership positions in politics and the economy of the region.

“Lack of aggression in demanding for positions sets them aside from other Luhya sub-tribes who will always make noise and even demand that their children be placed in key positions,” noted Prof Anangwe.

Justin Mutobera, a political advisor in the office of Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, said the lack of political initiative among the Wanga has also caused them to be overlooked in discussions surrounding the unity of the larger Luhya tribe, which Anangwe separately dismissed as a mirage.

Mutobera noted that many of the leaders pushing for Luhya unity hail from sub-tribes that have traditionally showed aggressiveness in the political arena.

“We have been overlooked yet we are an important voting bloc in the region. Current leaders in the political arena are not interested in true unity because they don‘t extend invitations to other Luhya sub-tribes,” stated Mutobera.

He also claimed that previous leaders in the area kept to themselves, never reaching out to neighbouring communities in Bungoma, Vihiga and Busia counties, adding that this is one reason MSC is suffering.

“Our leaders have been selfish and unable to mobilise the western Kenya community to fight for the sugar company or agitate for a Wanga managing director. Those who raise their voices do it for personal gain. It is high time someone from the community is appointed to the helm, but we know there are cartels locking out potential individuals from the community,” he stressed.

But Prof Anangwe ‘warns’ that the Wanga vote is critical in Western region, despite their slow and cautious approach to political issues.

“The people of Mumias determine what happens in Luhya politics and cannot be wished away in the area‘s political structures. Wanga people tend to take a common political stand whenever the need arises and many a times, they will take a collective decision that is good for the clan when required to rise to the occasion,” he says.

Why do they then seem unable to assume their historical place as leaders of the wider Luhya community? Oloo observes that this could be because Wanga leaders shy away from firebrand politics. He said the Wanga people must borrow a leaf from other Luhya clans such as the Bukusu and Maragoli who are not only aggressive, but will always support and rally behind their leaders.