Vihiga elders endorse Natembeya as spokesman, ask him to galvanise Western

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya is endorsed as spokesman for the Western region by Rev Christopher Govedi in Kiritu, Sabatia subcounty, on Friday  /HILTON OTENYO

Elders in Vihiga County on Saturday endorsed Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya as the new spokesperson for the Western region, tasking him with uniting the community ahead of the 2027 elections.

The endorsement is expected to sharpen political rivalry between Natembeya’s opposition-aligned Tawe Movement and the trio of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya, who are rallying the Luhya community behind President William Ruto.

Natembeya and his movement have accused Mudavadi and Wetang’ula of failing to deliver power and development to Western, urging them to cede space for a younger generation.

Mudavadi, Wetang’ula and Oparanya argue that supporting Ruto’s re-election in 2027 is the community’s best strategy to position itself for a bigger stake in the 2032 succession.

“Unity of purpose has no boundaries. Let us foster friendships with each other and with leaders across the country,” Wetang’ula said during a thanksgiving event in Malava on Friday.

The three leaders have been traversing Western, attending empowerment programmes under the banner of Luhya unity.

Mudavadi was installed in 2016 as the community spokesman by the Luhya Council of Elders, led by Philip Masinde, following a research commissioned by Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli.

Natembeya’s endorsement in Sabatia constituency was led by elders from the Maragoli, Bunyore and Tiriki communities, a symbolic challenge to Mudavadi in his own Vihiga backyard. The elders tasked him with consolidating a regional agenda across Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga and Bungoma.

Addressing the gathering, Natembeya said, “Our strength lies in speaking in one voice. Western has for long been fragmented by personal interests. It is time to put those divisions aside and work as one Mulembe nation.”

He said the region’s political fragmentation had weakened its bargaining power in development and national politics.

Analysts show the endorsements underscore the uncertainty around Western’s political unity, with some arguing the two factions must eventually close ranks if they are serious about presenting a common front.