Luhya leaders split over unity party ahead of 2027 polls

A section of Western Kenya leaders has clashed over the push to form one party for the region as part of an effort to achieve unity ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

While some of the leaders are confident that a single party from the region will improve the region's chances of securing the presidency.

The leaders led by National Assembly Moses Wetangula, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya, and a host of Members of Parliament (MPs) from the region during an empowerment program, stressed the importance of the region's unity under one party.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, who is the Secretary General of the Western MPs caucus, said they are going to ensure the region is united under one party and vote in direction.

"We are going to have one region, one vote, and one party to ensure that before the 2027 general election, we are going to form our regional party so that we can unite and vote in one direction," said Nabwera.

He added, “People of the western region have been decided for a long time, and this has affected our voting strength over the years. We, as Western leaders, have vowed to change this narrative once and for all."

He pointed out that having a united voice will accord the Western people the power to dictate who takes over the presidency in the future.

“For us to have a say in the national politics, we ought to have a merged voice,” he added.

“We are asking Wetang’ula, Oparanya, and Musalia Mudavadi to sit down and agree on who among them will lead us to State House. If they don’t, we will mobilise the community to make that decision,” said Sirisia MP John Walukhe.

He added, "We want to take on the presidency in 2032, but in 2027, we want to have a deputy president to deputise our President Ruto as we plan to have our own in 2032. We have all that it takes and even our CS Oparanya can be the deputy president," said Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka.

Wetangula reiterated his commitment to uniting the Luhya community to achieve its long-standing aspiration of securing the presidency. He noted that disunity among leaders, not the electorate, was the biggest barrier to that goal.

“It is not the people who are divided. We must take responsibility and come together,” Wetang’ula said.

Wetang’ula affirmed his willingness to collaborate with both Oparanya and Mudavadi to champion the Luhya community’s political, social, and economic development.

“I have no issue working with Oparanya or Mudavadi. We were in the Opposition together, and we are now collaborating in government under Kenya Kwanza,” he said.

Oparanya reaffirmed his interest in the presidency but signalled readiness to support a consensus candidate if it serves the community’s greater good.

“I am prepared to set aside my ambitions in favour of Wetang’ula or Mudavadi if that is what it takes to unite our people and deliver the presidency, but we have to unite first," said Oparanya.

However, Vihiga Senator and ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi urged the community to rally behind the ODM party and its party leader, Raila Odinga, stating that he has no idea of a region forming one party.

"I have heard my brother Nabwera saying one vote, one region, one party, but I am yet to be informed about it, maybe I will be informed. However, I want to tell my people to join the ODM party because it is the party that has the welfare of our region, and my party leader loves the people of this region," said Osotsi.

Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, during his rally in Kakamega town last week, reaffirmed his plan of launching a political party that he will use to seek presidency.

"I want to tell my people from the Western region that I am going to form my part, which I will be launching soon, and I will first unite my region, and I have started that journey," said Salasya.

Busia Senator Okiyah Omtatah, under his National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA), has also vowed to unite the region under his party as he seeks to contest for presidency in 2027.

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party—led by Godfrey Kanoti and Secretary General Dr Barrack Muluka, both Mudavadi allies, also aims to establish itself as a regional political platform championing local socio-economic interests.