Natembeya Demands Political Dignity for Luhya Community, Accuses Old Guard of Stagnating Progress

 

 Trans Nzoia Governor Dr. George Natembeya on Saturday intensified his call for the political, economic, and social emancipation of the Luhya community, accusing long-standing regional power brokers of derailing its progress for nearly seven decades.

Addressing thousands of supporters in Likuyani after receiving defectors from the Ford Kenya Party, Natembeya said the “populous Luhya nation” had been denied its rightful place in national leadership by leaders whose personal interests, conflicting agendas, and prolonged grip on power had left the community politically fragmented.

“The emancipation dream has been stalled by old guards who have clung to power for close to 70 years,” he declared, adding that the proliferation of numerous small parties founded on personal greed had pushed the community “into oblivion.”

Rejects Claims of Alliance With President Ruto

Natembeya firmly dismissed allegations from UDA Secretary General and DAP–K Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala, who claimed the governor was being used by President William Ruto to split the opposition.

“I am hereby putting things straight that I have never, and will never, accept to pick a penny from William Ruto,” Natembeya said, drawing loud applause.

He accused Malala and other critics of spreading lies to create political confusion and urged Kenyans to reject leaders who, he said, had been beneficiaries of the very system they now claimed to oppose.

“We should learn not to applaud or validate the lies spoken by politicians who have been dining with Ruto. Their desperation should not be entertained,” he told the cheering crowd.

A Growing Presidential Campaign

Accompanied by Kakamega Senator Dr. Boni Khalwale, along with several parliamentary aspirants aligned to his Tawe Movement, Natembeya used the rallies to underscore his ambitions for the presidency in 2027.

He said the time had come for the Luhya community to consolidate its voting bloc, describing unity as the only pathway to unlocking long-overdue development and national representation.

“The hour has come to consolidate the Abaluhya voting bloc and usher in the presidency during the 2027 general elections,” he said.

Natembeya reiterated that his movement is built on integrity, fairness, and a strong sense of identity for the Mulembe Nation. He warned that the community must reject leaders he described as “political cowards” seeking survival through alliances with the current regime.

Khalwale: ‘Tawe Movement is Generational Change’

Senator Khalwale echoed Natembeya’s sentiments, describing the Tawe Movement as a symbol of generational transformation.

“Generational change exemplified by Governor Natembeya’s Tawe Movement will continue pushing for policy-driven leadership,” Khalwale said.

He criticized the region’s veteran leaders, accusing them of failing to achieve meaningful progress despite holding influential national offices for a combined seventy years.

Western Kenya Leaders Call for Massive Voter Registration

Bungoma gubernatorial hopeful Zekaria Barasa urged residents of Western Kenya to register en masse as voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

Barasa argued that only a unified and fully registered electorate could successfully “send President William Ruto home.”

He said the community must turn its numbers into political capital if it hopes to influence the direction of national politics.

Former Lugari MP Dr. Enock Kibunguchi added that despite being Kenya’s second-largest ethnic group, the Luhya community had historically missed out on national prominence due to a lack of strategy and unity.

“The Luhya must confront challenges head-on and use their numerical advantage effectively in national power negotiations,” he said.

Kibunguchi backed Natembeya’s presidential bid, arguing that a fresh generational approach may be exactly what the region needs. He criticized Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, saying their renewed push for Luhya unity ahead of 2027 was motivated more by personal gain than genuine community advancement.

Roadside Rallies Draw Massive Crowds

After the main event in Likuyani, Natembeya made additional stopovers in Sango, Nangili, Soy, and Matunda, where enthusiastic crowds lined the roadsides to hear his message. At each stop, he emphasized unity, generational change, and what he termed a long-overdue political reawakening.