- Provisional results indicate Raila Odinga led ODM party has improved presence in Kakamega county where it has won nine of the 12 parliamentary seats.
- In 2017, ODM only won Mumias West and Shinyalu seats and lost others to ANC and Jubilee.
Image: MUSALIA MUDAVADI/TWITTER
Early results of the Tuesday election in Western have painted a likely change in influence of key Luhya leaders.
Influence by some leaders will grow while others risk fading off if the results are anything to go by.
Provisional results indicate that Raila Odinga-led ODM party has improved presence in Kakamega county where it has won nine of the 12 parliamentary seats.
They are Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Tindi Mwale (Butere), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo) and Titus Khamala (Lurambi).
Others are Johnston Naica (Mumias West), Peter Nabulindo (Matungu), Vincent Mugabe (Likuyani) and Nabii Nabwera (Lugari).
In 2017, ODM only won Mumias West and Shinyalu seats and lost others to ANC and Jubilee.
The ANC influence has dropped.
The Musalia Mudavadi-led party won Malava (Malulu Injendi) and Shinyalu (Fred Ikana) and lost Khwisero, Butere, Lugari and Lurambi to ODM.
ODM however lost Luanda constituency, the only MP seat it had in Vihiga county, but retained Governor seat through Ottichilo.
The party also snatched the Senate seat from ANC through Godfrey Osotsi.
Image: FILE
ODM retained its influence in Busia county where it has retained Budalang'i, Funyula and Teso North parliamentary seats and retained the governor and senator seats as well.
The party was also leading in Butula constituency race as Nambale went to an independent candidate.
Deputy President William Ruto's UDA snatched Teso South parliamentary seat.
Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa registered his presence in Kakamega and Vihiga counties by winning Mumias East and Luanda parliamentary seats on his DAP-K.
The outcome indicates that Mudavadi, who is the de-facto Luhya leader, could be losing grip on the Luhya vote bloc and the emergence of Wamalwa.
The improved performance by ODM elevates the status of outgoing Kakamega governor and deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya, who is also keen to join national politics after serving his constitutional two-terms.
Ford Kenya leader and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula has however asserted his authority in Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia counties, where he managed to whither off a joint attack from ODM, Jubilee and DAP-K.
ODM was for the second time locked out of Bungoma county.
Image: HANDOUT
The outcome has exposed Mudavadi's weaknesses given the fact that he was unable to lock his own Vihiga county from rivals.
The matter is made worse by the fact that his own MP is from UDA and not his party.
Mudavadi, Wetang'ula and Oparanya harbour presidential ambition.
Oparanya pushing hard, can take away Kakamega from Mudavadi’s grip and could be sewn as preparation of his starting bloc come 2027.
Political commentator Martin Andati said stakes are high and survival of Western politicians aligned to either Azimio or Kenya Kwanza will depend on the presidential outcome.
“The outcome of the election will be a precursor to a new order in the Luhya nation,” he said.
(Eidited by Bilha Makokha)