Mulembe people's assembly flops as key leaders give it a wide berth

Former CS Rashid Echesa, UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, Kakamega Businessman Cleophas Shimanyula and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natambeya during Tawe movement rally at Kakamega Golf hotel on July 29, 2024. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Key politicians from Western skipped the much-hyped meeting called by a new crop of young but vocal politicians from the region, disillusioned after President William Ruto named four ODM members into his cabinet.

The meeting dubbed the 'Mulembe People's Assembly', held at Kakamega Golf Hotel was meant to revive the bid to edge out political old guards who have dominated the region's politics. However, most local leaders did not attend the assembly intended to chart the community's way forward.

The key planners of the meeting, led by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and MPs Nabii Nabwera (Lugari), Dick Maungu (Luanda), Caleb Amisi (Saboti), Innocent Mugabe (Likuyani), Jack Wamboka (Bumula), and Godfrey Osotsi (Vihiga Senator), were notably absent.

Only UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa, and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya attended.

"We want leadership of accountability, when we vote to form a government, we must benefit equally from the national cake," said Malala in his address.

He added: "Let us retreat as Luhyas and suspend our personal aspirations for the sake of the development of our people."

Mr Malala further emphasised that it is incorrect to assume a few individuals who received government appointments, including himself, represent the community's interests. "We want to see real development projects coming to our region the way it happens in other regions."

"We will call a meeting next month in Bungoma where we shall invite National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, and Cooperatives Cabinet nominee Wycliffe Oparanya. We shall give them a list of development projects we want as a region and demand progress reports by the end of the 2024/25 financial year," he said.

But Malala, who claims to have the ear of President Ruto could not explain why he has not been able to push for development in the region.

Governor Natembeya echoed similar sentiments, stating that the Luhya community, despite being the second-largest in Kenya, is treated as strangers when it comes to sharing the national cake.

"As a community, we are number two in population, where is our voice? How come poverty thrives in Western Kenya, our children have degrees but no work," said Natembeya.

"Who is our spokesperson looking out for our interests as Luhyas? The current status quo is not helping us at all," he added.

"How are we using our numbers as a community to bargain for development projects? We need a leader who has negotiating power and must be at the table to distribute the cake to us. We cannot have a community that is number five in population in power and not number two."

Natembeya emphasised that the Luhya community cannot be used as a voting machine without getting a share of the benefits.

"When the cabinet was dissolved, Ruto, DP Rigathi Gachagua, and Mudavadi came up with the names for the second cabinet. Gachagua got seven slots but Mudavadi had none. What did we get from Raila Odinga's share? We cannot continue like this."

He stressed that the Luhya community must form the next government in 2027 or be doomed. But the governor was short of naming his preferred presidential candidate from Western.