President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, has urged the
Luhya community to prepare to take over leadership after Ruto’s second term
ends in 2032.
Speaking during a Thanksgiving event at the home of Simon
Kangwana, who lost in the recent UDA primaries for the Malava parliamentary
by-election, Kibet said Western Kenya should back Ruto’s re-election in 2027 to
strengthen its position in the succession race.
“It is not strange; it can happen. Luhyas and Kalenjins have
been good neighbours, and the Rift Valley recognises the support the Luhya
community is giving the Kenya Kwanza government,” he said.
The remarks came a day after MPs from Western Kenya, led by
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet
Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, declared that the Luhya community will seek the
Deputy President’s position in 2027.
Lawmakers, including Titus Khamala (Lurambi), Bernard Shinali
(Ikolomani), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Nabii Nabwera (Lugari), John Waluke
(Sirisia), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli, and
Kakamega Woman MP Elsie Muhanda argued that the community’s numerical strength
justifies its claim to the seat.
They pledged to back Ruto’s re-election bid in exchange for
support in 2032.
Kibet, however, cautioned residents of Malava against
shifting to the opposition. “You cannot leave ugali on the table for water on
the stove, because the water may be for bathing or washing utensils, and you end
up sleeping hungry,” he said.
During the event, Kibet donated Sh1 million to Mutola
Primary School.
Kangwana and Leonard Shimaka, both of whom lost to David
Ndakwa in the UDA primaries, reaffirmed their loyalty to the party, saying they
will continue to support the government’s development agenda.
“The Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda has delivered in terms
of resources and farm inputs. We must stand with the government of the day,”
Kangwana said.
Shimaka added that despite losing, they will remain active
in UDA, campaigning for development in Malava Constituency.
