Looking at history of Kenyans politics, it had been regional and ethnic based since 1963. The largest communities like Kikuyu, Luo, Kalenjins and Kalenjins has been rallying behind one sole leader when it comes to national politics.

The unity has saw Mt Kenya producing three presidents, Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and currently Uhuru Kenyatta. Kalenjins produced the late Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi who ruled for 24 years, from 1978 to 2002, and they are rallying again behind William Ruto for presidency stab in 2022.

Despite being the second largest tribe in Kenya after the Kikuyu, the Luhyaland had three vice presidents, Moody Awori, Wamalwa Kijana and Musalia Mudavadi (who lasted for 4 months) but have failed to produce a president.

Reason behind dusunity

Looking at Western Kenya, the word Luhya seem to be a foreign one since there are 17 sub-tribes in which some seems to fight against each other making it difficult to form one political outfit in the region. History teaches us that the Kalenjins were prevously a divided lot. Each sub-tribe was pulling in a different direction, but they discovered that divided, they will like a house of cards. Theb they united their unimpeachable loyality and unity enabled Moi stay in power for 24 years.

For Luhyas to be United, they have to come up with one strong political outfit from the region with one sole leader, despite this will take some time due to the current looking 2022 alignments. Ford-Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula and his Amani National Congress(ANC) counterpart hon. Musalia Mudavadi had been seen walking together since early 2020, and promised to work together in 2022.

Will Mudavadi-Wetangula bring political unity in Western?

According to pundits, two will just unite the ANC and Ford Kenya supporters come 2022. It wont be easy to come with a voting block from the region due to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and William Ruto influence in the region. ODM has a good number of loyalists in Busia where it has 5 parliamentary seats, with some in Vihiga and Kakamega County. William Ruto has a strong 'army' of former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali, Malava MP Injendi Malulu, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, Sirisia MP John Wakuke, MP Mwambu Mabonga of Bumula and Fred Chesebe of Mt Elgon.

From the looks of things, Ruto allies from the region seems they can rally behind anyone who can support William Ruto, but Mudavadi and Wetangula had been seen walking in a different direction, with Kalonzo Musyoka and Gideon Moi for an alleged 2022 coalition.

If Ford-Kenya and ANC could have merged to form one political party in the Western region, it could be easy to unite the 'Mulembe' nation if the leaders allied to DP William Ruto agrees to join the faction, but from the look of thing it should be conditional only if, William Ruto is the main man. This is something that seems rather impossible since Musalia Mudavadi wants to contest for presidency.

Content created and supplied by: Tony_Simiyu (via Opera News )