Luhyas can produce president if they vote as a bloc - speaker

Western Kenya is capable of producing a president if they all vote as a bloc, Vihiga County Assembly speaker has said.

Christopher Omulele said the community, the second biggest by number, has the population to produce a president.

Omulele said the community has over 5 million votes which are able to influence and can be leveraged on the decision making table.

"For us to be respected as the community we must work as a team so that those at the helm of this country can also respect us and value as when it comes in decision making and sharing resources of this country." 

The former Member of Parliament for Luanda said they can produce a leader who is not corrupt and can lead soberly, without nepotism and tribalism.

Luhyas are a kind-hearted people, hence they have been supporting other communities to lead. 

"We had our brothers/sisters in Rift Valley voted for UDA which is the ruling party. In 2017 Central voted a bloc and they had the leadership of this country. What of us we are always scattered?" Omulele posed.

"If we aren't able to work as a team and put our votes in one basket as the people of Mulembe Nation, we shall remain ladders for others to ascend to power," he added.

His sentiments were echoed by Luanda MP Dick Maungu and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi during the installation of Etale Olunyilila as the new chairman of the Abasikhale community at Mumboha Church of God on Saturday.

The speaker urged Osotsi and Maungu to rally other leaders in the region to work together for the benefit of the community.

The region has regularly voted from different political parties and there has been a push to have a unified vehicle through which all aspirants should vie. 

In 2013, Ford Kenya, which was led by Moses Wetangula, was in the Cord coalition, while Musalia  Mudavadi sought the leadership mandate through the UDF party.

Both Wetangula and Mudavadi joined forces with Raila Odinga's ODM party in 2017, under the Nasa coalition, while other Luhya-led parties were in the ruling Jubilee coalition.

The Luhya vote continued to split in the 2022 poll as ANC and Ford Kenya joined Kenya Kwanza, while DAP-K and UDP aligned with other parties to form the rivalling Azimio coalition. 

Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya, who seems keen to establish himself with the Tawe slogan ahead of 2027, has been vocal against Wetangula and Mudavadi.

"We can't have one leader to be worshipped yet there is nothing their people are benefiting from their leadership," Natembeya said in one of the forums in his county.