Luhya leaders are working to unite the community ahead of the next general election, UDP leader Cyrus Jirongo has said.
He said the unity talks will ensure that the community achieves a clear objective for 2022.
“We want to put all our people together. That’s the process we are working on because you can’t achieve this without knowing who leads the team and for what,” Jirongo said.
“I want to give the unity bid one last chance. I started this a long time ago and it’s working. We’re 90 per cent done and soon we will be talking to our people.”
He said the team leader will be mandated to engage with other communities on the community’s bare minimum in any negotiations for the next general election.
Western has ANC party headed by Musalia Mudavadi, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya, Jirongo’s UDP and Maendeleo Democratic Party.
Mudavadi and Wetang’ula are working together under the One Kenya Alliance (OKA).
Other leaders, including former UNCTAD secretary general Mukhisa Kituyi and Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, have been associated with the newly registered Development Alliance Party (DAP).
Mudavadi and Jirongo worked together in the two by-elections in Matungu and Kabuchai in March to avoid competing against each other.
Mudavadi and Kituyi have declared that they will run for the presidency next year. Jirongo and Wetang’ula are yet to declare their interests.
Traditionally, leaders from the region have always pulled in different directions, making the community unattractive for political deals with other regions.
Lugari MP Ayub Savula said Jirongo has been talking to Western leaders on unity.
“The idea is welcome. He has reached out to me and I am ready to attend such meetings. I stand for anything that is for the benefit of the community,” he said on the phone.
Savula said the resolve by Luhya leaders to work together was stronger than ever.
Edited by A.N
