Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa has asked the Luhya to push their leaders to unite ahead of the next General Election.
Wamalwa said ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who have declared they will run for the Presidency must work together to ensure the community’s numerical strength translates into votes.
“We must put our parties aside and sit together as sons of Mulembe and that way we shall lead this country one day," the CS said.
He said the leaders should mobilise residents to register as voters and encourage them to turn out in large numbers on polling day.
Wamalwa said although Kakamega county is the second largest after Nairobi in population, Kiambu has 1.1 million registered voters while Kakamega county has 748,000. Only about 500, 000 cast their votes.
Leadership and governance consultant Eric Wafukho said failure by ANC and Ford Kenya to proceed with their proposed merger may have slowed the political momentum in Western.
“What is concerning the nation is that despite the region having controlling numbers, its leaders have not moved to give direction to the community. No consolidation has gone on in Western except vociferous statements made at funerals at weekends but lacking a follow up plan,” he said.
“It may be early to conduct overt campaigns but if Western leaders under Musalia do not move and galvanize the region's vote, they should be prepared for very stiff competition from the Ruto and Raila Odinga camps.”
Wafukho said that youth in the region have been reduced to keyboard warriors to praise and condemn at a fee. Social media groups have been set up to extort leaders but no credible campaign strategies exist.
The expert, however, said it is too early to tell who the front runners in the 2022 presidential race will be.
