Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya has claimed that Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has no influence in Western region politics despite having a senior position in the Kenya Kwanza government.
Speaking during an interview with Spice FM on April, 9, 2024, Natembeya said that Mudavadi has lost influence among the Luhya community, as most members of the community prefer working with Azimio leader Raila Odinga.
According to the Trans Nzoia governor, President William Ruto can use Raila to win the support of the Luhya community in the 2027 elections.
Speaking during the interview, he highlighted that key leaders from the Western region were elected under the ODM party, showing Raila’s influence among the Mulembe community.
“Today the governor for Mudavadi in Vihiga County is an ODM governor, Otichilo and Senator Otsotsi is also of ODM, Azimio caught more votes in Vihiga County than Kenya Kwanza in 2022 elections,” he said.
For instance, Natembeya noted that if President Ruto sacks Mudavadi from his current position in government, the people of Wesdtern Kenya will not raise any concerns.
He added that for Mudavadi to have influence in the region and the country at large, he was supposed to have many elected members of parliament to support his agenda in the Kenya Kwanza government.
“Today he is there alone. The position Mudavadi holds in government is what we call tokenism. He can be fired today and no Luhya will cry.
“Today if the president wants to talk to Luhyas he will go through Raila because the latter’s ODM party is dominant in the region,” said Natembeya.
The Trans Nzoia governor explained that initially, leaders in the region united based on their shared selfish interests rather than the transformational agenda, adding that he is personally committed to fight for the unity of the Luhya community.
His remarks emerged a few days after he differed publicly with National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula in political wars.
This was after Natembeya dismissed claims that Wetangula nicknamed ‘Papa wa Roma’ is the most preferred political leader among the Luhya community.
