By Anderson Ojwang
A sea of humanity. A mark of honour and belief. In droves, the community gathered. The traditional dance and the songs ushered in a new chapter and dispensation.
The old and the young trudged to the venue, waving twigs and traditional regalia. The Isikhuti band galvanised, the beats and the tunes sublimed. In hundreds, they braved the sweltering heat.
Bungoma came to a standstill. There was only one business: the business of revelation of the new king. The birth.
On the way to Bungoma, the residents gathered by the roadside, saluting as they waved. They also donated to the king in all forms, from money to chicken and foodstuff.
The ever-busy Malaba-Eldoret Highway was cleared of traffic, and in honour, they arrived in style and class.
The seven months of tribulations by the immediate former ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna were soon transformed into tears of joy.
The pain, humiliation and tribulations at the hands of ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga were turned into victory. From Secretary General post to a Luhya community leader and presidential candidate.
While ODM is still craving for the post of Deputy President in the pre-election pact with President William Ruto’s UDA, Sifuna was being unveiled to face off with Ruto in the 2027 presidential contest.
A nightmare
President Ruto’s political plan was to have the Luhya vote in his basket for the 2027 presidential contest, as Mt Kenya, which supported his 2022 victory, has shifted its allegiance to the opposition.
Ruto was assured of the Luhya support, but now with the entry of Sifuna and the community elders and leadership rallying behind him, the vote hunt in the community is turning into a nightmare.
This explains the emerging bitter battle between the two leaders ahead of the August 10th 2027 presidential election.
Bungoma
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya led in the unveiling of Sifuna’s presidential bid and as the community spokesperson.
The Governor also called on the community to reject Luhya leaders Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, and Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya.
“We have come to unveil our son Sifuna for the presidency. Now it is time to reject Mudavadi, Wetang’ula and Oparanya. We must also reject UDA and ODM parties,” he said.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale told the 8 million Luhya population to rally behind Sifuna for the presidency.
“I have a message for you, the Luhya community. This respect, honour and love you have shown today in Bungoma to us is humbling. There is a greater responsibility. On 10th August 2027, go and vote for Edwin Sifuna to become the President,” he said.
Khalwale told the community to reject Mudavadi and Wetang’ula’s negative politics against Sifuna, terming them as self-centred leaders.
“My work today is to speak for the 8 million Luhya people in Kenya. Why must the only two men from our community eat on our behalf? I want to beseech you, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula, go and think on and about Sifuna’s presidency,” he said.
Khalwale said Sifuna has achieved more politically than what Mudavadi tried in 2013 when he ran for the presidency and came a poor third to Uhuru Kenyatta and the late Raila Odinga.
“Let Mudavadi and Wetang’ula leave the field for Sifuna to become President of Kenya. We have the votes and the support,” he said.
Oparanya for DP slot
Interestingly, ODM Director of Elections, Junet Mohammed, also on Sunday in Malava, some 150 kilometres away from Bungoma, declared that the party had settled on Oparanya to deputise President Ruto in the 2027 general elections.
He said Oparanya was the suitable candidate for the seat and that in the pre-election coalition pact, he will be the party’s choice for the Deputy President.
Oparanya said he will remain a loyal member of ODM and that he had rejected attempts by a section of Luhya leaders to leave the party.
We are together
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino reaffirmed his support and commitment to Sifuna’s presidential bid, saying it was payback time for the Luhya community to support Sifuna’s presidential bid.
“Today, we are back home. I have come back with your son. 2027, we have your son Edwin Sifuna,” he said.
Babu moved the crowd when he narrated the tribulations and suffering Sifuna had gone through in the ODM party.
“Sifuna, I know you have been persecuted and you have suffered. You stood by me when ODM wanted to expel me; that is why today, I stand by you. Luhya, you have been brought the presidency. We don’t want confusion. We must lock Bungoma,” he said.
Babu promised to support Sifuna’s campaigns nationally and invited him to seek votes in Nyanza.
“Sifuna, we will walk with you. We have gone to 16 counties, and we must go to all 47. We will have to go to the 290 constituencies. From Western, let’s go to Nyanza and ask for votes; they love you,” he said.
On Sunday, Sifuna’s journey to the presidency began, and Luhya is now a battleground between Ruto and Sifuna. When the hunter becomes the hunted.
