Natembeya urges fresh leadership, says Wetang’ula and Mudavadi belong to old guard of Kenyan politics
By Cy Muganda, August 29, 2025Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has called for generational change in Western Kenya’s political leadership, describing National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi as part of an old guard that should be phased out.
Speaking on a local radio station on Friday, August 29, 2025, Natembeya argued that the region needs new leadership to move forward effectively.
“Mudavadi too, Eugene Wamalwa, those are all the politicians we should phase out. I want generational change of leadership in Western,” Natembeya said.
The Governor used biblical references to illustrate his point about ageing political leadership, comparing current leaders to Moses, who did not reach the Promised Land.
“I tell people that Wetang’ula and others are like Moses. Mudavadi is a child of Moses. Moses did not take the Israelites to Canaan. He also did not reach there. He died before reaching. He saw it but did not reach it. But it was Joshua,” he stated.
Natembeya positioned himself as the Joshua figure who would lead the people to their destination, saying: “I have seen Canaan and I will take our people to Canaan.”
Political dominance
The Trans Nzoia Governor criticised the long tenure of current Western leaders, arguing they have dominated politics for too long without achieving the presidency.
“These leaders of ours have been in government for almost 70 years combined. They tell others that when Ruto was in high school, Mudavadi was already a minister,” Natembeya said.
“They have never become president. And now Ruto has not appointed Mudavadi as a minister. So I want generational change of leadership,” he added.
Call for new leadership
Natembeya emphasised the need for current leaders to step aside and allow fresh faces to emerge.
“These people should leave politics. I tell our people that these leaders have not done the bad things they are being accused of now. So now is our time,” he declared.
The Governor stressed the importance of unity among emerging leaders to achieve political success for the region.
“The issue of unity among our leaders is worse than what I have said. We are just talking. Let us decide who among us will even carry the presidential flag,” Natembeya said.
He argued that if leaders can unite and stand together, the region could move beyond tribal and regional politics for the first time.
“But if we agree to work together and we all stand together, Kenyans can go beyond issues of tribalism and regionalism for the first time. Let us choose this person,” he concluded.