By Anderson Ojwang
For Rift Valley and Western Kenya, Trans Nzoia has been the heart and motor of politics for the two communities, namely the Luhya and the Kalenjin.
The two communities have for eons tried to upstage one another in the power matrix, but in most cases, the Luhya community has prevailed.
For the Luhya community, Trans Nzoia County has been the bedrock of the community’s leading political lights and heavyweights, including the late Masinde Muliro, the former vice president, the late Wamalwa Kijana, the late George Kapten, the current governor George Natembeya, and DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa, among others.
For the Kalenjin community, they have tried to checkmate the Luhya community through Kipruto Kirwa, former Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson Zippora Kittony, Wesley Korir, and Joshua Kuttuny, former MPs for Cherangany, among others.
Cradle
Trans Nzoia County has been the cradle for the Luhya community in its search for the presidency. Muliro became a pillar during the 1990s political agitation for constitutional change.
Kapten and Wamalwa were members of the opposition movement led by the doyen of opposition politics, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, with Wamalwa later inheriting Ford-Kenya from Oginga and domesticating it among the Luhya community.
It was Trans Nzoia that produced the eighth vice president, Wamalwa, in the 2002 presidential election that ended KANU’s reign and rule in the country.
Game Plan
Governor Natembeya, understanding the importance of Trans Nzoia to Luhya politics, engaged Linda Mwananchi co-principals Edwin Sifuna and Geoffrey Osotsi, among others, to chart a new political dispensation for the community.
Natembeya has no love lost between him and President William Ruto and remains one of the fiercest critics of the Kenya Kwanza regime.
It was in Trans Nzoia where Natembeya announced his intention to forgo his presidential ambition in favour of Sifuna and to mobilise the community to support his bid.
In Trans Nzoia, Natembeya held closed-door meetings to set the gears in motion for Sifuna’s presidential bid, and the wave kicked off.
Race
President Ruto and his allies have also been working around the clock to undo Natembeya’s grip on the region ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.
That is why Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, on July 16, 2026, presided over the opening of a facility at the County Assembly and addressed the assembly.
Murkomen wrote: “In my address to the Trans Nzoia County Assembly, I urged MCAs to continue working with us in our fight against political violence, drug and substance abuse, and organized crime.
I commend the Assembly, led by Speaker Hon. Andrew Wanyonyi, for their new Committee Services and Wellness Centre, which will provide a conducive environment for committee work and stakeholder engagement.
We will continue working with County Assemblies across the country to strengthen devolution, secure our country, and enhance service delivery to Kenyans.
I was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli, Principal Administrative Secretary Beverly Opwora, and Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Alason Hussein, among other senior government officials.”
Invite to the President
The Speaker, Mr. Wanyonyi, on July 22, 2026, wrote a letter inviting President William Ruto to officially commission the newly completed County Assembly administration block and chambers and address the assembly.
President Ruto, in his response through the Head of Public Service dated August 8, 2026, acknowledged receipt of the invitation and accepted it.
It read in part: “His Excellency the President has graciously accepted this invitation and consented to honour the occasion with his presence on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 2.30 p.m. at the County Assembly.”
The Speaker and the President are reading from a different political script, with Natembeya leading former ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna’s presidential push.
Wetang’ula Meeting
Last year, National Assembly Speaker and FORD-Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula held talks with over 15 Trans Nzoia Members of County Assembly (MCAs) amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election.
“At the request of the county leadership, our discussions focused on key issues affecting the people of Trans Nzoia, from service delivery and development priorities to political cohesion and enhanced cooperation between the National Government and County Governments,” Wetang’ula wrote on his X account on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
“I reaffirmed my unwavering commitment to continuous engagement with local leaders, emphasising that strong collaboration across all levels of leadership is essential to driving social and economic development in our region.
“I also encouraged the MCAs to remain united in purpose and steadfast in their oversight role, assuring them of my full support as we work to strengthen a seamless and productive relationship with national institutions,” he wrote.
Notice
Similarly, last year, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also put Natembeya on notice to prepare for defeat in his re-election bid in 2027.
Mudavadi said there were young men and women in UDA who would give Natembeya a run for his money in the 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.
The PCS said that the people of Trans Nzoia should relieve Natembeya of his duties so that he can pursue being an elder in the community.
“I have seen victory, I have seen defeat, and we know how to navigate the world of politics, but we do polite and peaceful politics,” said Mudavadi.
Response
During the recent Linda Mwananchi rally in Bungoma, Natembeya led the unveiling of Sifuna’s presidential bid and positioned himself as the community spokesperson.
The governor also called on the community to reject Luhya leaders, including 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 the UDA and ODM parties,” he said.
