Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has come out to speak on Governor George Natembeya’s mistake, which he believes could cost him the opportunity to be seen as presidential material.

Amisi says Natembeya’s desire to become president may remain a dream.

While speaking on a local radio station on Monday, June 9, 2025, Amisi stated that the moment Natembeya localised his politics by restricting himself to Trans Nzoia and the larger Western Kenya region, it could derail his chances for the country’s top seat.

“You don’t localise a national agenda. Even if you become the king of Tawe, there is no ballot where you tick Tawe or Western Kingpin. If you decide you want to be president, go for it, Amisi said.

According to Amisi, Natembeya had the potential to be a president or a national leader, but he could miss out on the opportunity due to his Luhya kingpin narrative and Tawe Movement.

Amisi explained that even if someone becomes a regional or tribal kingpin, there will never be a ballot with the name “kingpin” on it.

He said Natembeya made a major mistake by localising what should have been a national agenda, and that is where things began to fall apart for him.

Amisi added that Natembeya should have simply declared his intention to run for the presidency instead of focusing on being a tribal figure.

He said Natembeya should have shifted his focus from Western politics and concentrated on the presidency by presenting himself as someone the country needs more than his county or tribe.

Luhya support

He continued to explain that Natembeya could have started by promoting a national agenda and positioning himself as a presidential candidate.

The Luhya community, out of loyalty, would have voted for him without him having to emphasise tribal identity.

 Amisi emphasised that one cannot ascend to national leadership while clinging to local politics.

Amisi also stated that if Natembeya had positioned himself as a presidential candidate, the Luhyas would have still supported him even if he had never spoken a single Luhya word.

“You can’t go to a national platform with local politics. That’s where Mudavadi has gone wrong. Sell a national agenda, and the Luhyas will just look at you and say, Huyu ni mtoto wetu. You’ll get Luhya support without uttering a single Luhya word.” Amisi added

He added that Natembeya’s continued focus on Western Kenya and his use of the Luhya language are costing him national appeal.

According to him, other communities now view Natembeya as a regional leader, specifically a Luhya politician, rather than a national figure capable of representing the entire country. He stated that this approach will prevent Natembeya from ever becoming president.

“When you come saying ‘mulembe mulembe, people see you as pushing a Luhya agenda. Then you’re shut out—and that’s why he will never be president. Natembeya got it wrong. He can’t,” Amisi said.

He gave the example of the late Michael Kijana Wamalwa from the same community, who was viewed as President Kibaki’s possible successor by people across the country.

This, he said, was because Wamalwa positioned himself as a national leader and did not confine himself to his community.

Amisi concluded that this is the kind of strategy Natembeya has failed to adopt.

“Did you ever hear Kijana Wamalwa say Luhyas kuja pamoja? Never. He was articulate; he was a gentleman. Kikuyus could see that this is the one to follow after Kibaki,” Amisi added.