Luyha is majority tribe if credible census is done - Natembeya

Trans Nzoia Governor George, Natembeya has claimed that if a credible national census is done, the Luyha community will form the majority tribe in the country.

The governor alleged that although official census figures by the government have shown that the community is number two, the population of the Luyha community is by far more than the Kikuyu.

Natembeya who served as a national government administrator before he resigned in 2022 to contest for governor, said should the Luyha community take advantage of its numbers, then it will earn respect.

''In the census, we are number two, but if you count properly, we are number one,'' Natembeya said during the launch of Nawiri Fund in Kitale.

The county boss claimed that having worked in Central Kenya in the past, he is aware that the Luhya nation has more numbers.

''Here in the Luyha community, we are giving birth during the day and night. We are very many but our numbers do not matter because of poor leadership,'' he said.

The governor attributed the Luyha Community's elusive unity to bad leadership which he said is driven by jealousy.

''Jelousy has kept us backwards, we must make meaning of our numbers,'' Natembeya said.

According to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census results the Kikuyu community are the most populous in Kenya with 8.14 million people.

It was followed by Luhyas at 6.82 million and Kalenjins at 6.35 million.

The total population stood at 47.6 million.

He accused a section of leaders from Western Kenya of failing the region by focusing on selfish interests and opportunism, leaving the community in the bondage of poverty.

He accused some leaders from the community of using their political parties to auction the community's political strength.

"Right now, our Luhya leaders have never sacrificed for anybody, they ride on opportunism and use their political parties to trade the community's voting power," Natembeya said.

He dismissed leaders from the community imposing themselves as kingpins and engaging in politics of worship.

"Our people have suffered because of the mistake of some leaders who purport to be kingpins and engaged in the politics of worship,'' he said.

''These leaders have done nothing to the community for years they have served in the government and elective positions.''

Natembeya declared himself a self-made leader and dismissed the politics of worship.

"I am a self-made leader. I have worked hard to where I am today, and I will not worship or clap for leaders who call themselves kingpins and have done nothing for our community," he said.