By Anderson Ojwang
For the last two decades, Luhya leadership and politics have revolved around Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula.
Various attempts by political minnows from the region to alter the political equation have been unsuccessful, often with huge political consequences for the plotters.
However, the emergence of the Tawe Movement under Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya is ruffling feathers and threatens to destabilize the political equation within the Luhya community’s leadership structure.
With Thursday’s by-elections in Malava constituency and Chwele–Kabuchai ward, the dice is cast, and it will be interesting to watch the battle between the old guards and the younger generation.
Mudavadi has been leading campaigns for the UDA candidate Ndakwa, while Natembeya has been the engine behind the DAP-K candidate Seth Panyako.
Mudavadi recently put Natembeya on notice and warned that he risks losing his Trans Nzoia gubernatorial seat in the 2027 general election.
“Mwaka wa 2027, bwana Natembeya, tunakuletea candidate. We are coming for you. Tutakuwa na candidate kule Trans Nzoia, wewe utaenda nyumbani. Wewe ni term moja. Umeingia tu alafu unafikiria umeshinda Weta, umeshinda Mudavadi, umeshinda hawa watu wote. Sisi pia ni wanasiasa. Mtu asifikirie kwamba atakuja kutuchezea kila mara. We are also experienced. We shall sponsor candidates. We shall have people in every constituency. If you think we are jokers, we are coming for you. I am a politician; I have known to lose and to win. I have woken up to say let the journey begin,” he said.
Mudavadi said Natembeya was acting too clever and overestimating himself, adding that he would face young men and women from the UDA party in the 2027 general election.
“I want to tell Natembeya, don’t act too clever. We have been in politics longer. We are only quiet, but don’t think we cannot do politics. We will take you home in 2027. We have young men and women ready to take over from him,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi said the people of Trans Nzoia should relieve Natembeya of his duties so that he can pursue being an elder in every community.
But Natembeya dismissed Mudavadi and Wetangula for failing to fight for the plight and interests of the Luhya community, saying they only pursue personal interests.
“Nyinyi mtakubali watu kutoka county ingine wakuje kutupanga? Wetangula akishiba ni usingizi. Mudavadi akishiba ni usingizi. Ndio imefanya watu wetu wameumia. Tumesema 2027 wanaenda nyumbani ndio tukuwe na uongozi mpya,” he said.
(Will you accept politicians from other counties to control you? When Wetangula and Mudavadi are satisfied, they sleep, and that is why our people continue to suffer. In 2027, we will vote them out and have new leadership that cares about the community.)
He said the presence of Mudavadi and Wetangula in the government has not benefitted the Luhya community.
“Kwa hii serikali, kuna vijana wawili wetu wako ndani. Mudavadi na Wetangula. Tunawaheshimu. Lakini kwa sasa, kama mheshimiwa Rais akifanya makosa, kwa hawa wawili, nani anaweza kumuambia? Ukienda Rift Valley, majirani wetu, mheshimiwa Rais akisema kitu nani anaweza kumpinga?
Ukija Western, watu hupiga kifua eti mimi ni namba tatu kwa serikali. Very useless things. Wamalwa na Moody Awori walikuwa namba mbili. Sasa kwa ujinga yetu tunashangilia tuko namba tatu,” he said.
(In this government, our two leaders are inside — Mudavadi and Wetangula. We respect them. But if the President makes a mistake, who among them can correct him? In Rift Valley, nobody goes against the President. But in Western, we chest-thump that we are number three in government. Very useless. Wamalwa Kijana and Moody Awori were number two. Now, in our ignorance, we celebrate being number three.)
In his last campaign message, Mudavadi told the electorate: “An MP from the ruling party easily accesses government services because of proximity to the President and government functionaries. The late MP Malulu Injendi left you in government; ensure that you stay inside.”
But in a quick response, Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale dismissed Mudavadi’s sentiments, saying, “But Sir, you have for over 35 years been right at the core of government as a minister, yet Luhyas don’t see your footprints anywhere in Western.”
Natembeya was recently coronated as Luhya spokesperson by Maragoli elders in a ceremony conducted in Vihiga County.
Natembeya’s endorsement in Sabatia constituency was led by elders from the Maragoli, Bunyore, and Tiriki communities — a symbolic challenge to Mudavadi in his own Vihiga backyard. The elders tasked him with consolidating a regional agenda across Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga, and Bungoma.
Natembeya said at the function: “Our strength lies in speaking in one voice. Western has for long been fragmented by personal interests. It is time to put those divisions aside and work as one Mulembe nation.”
