Luhya leaders reaffirm stand to back Ruto in 2027 contest
By dennis-lumiti, May 13, 2024
Luhya leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to rally the community behind re-election of President William Ruto come 2027.
The leaders said they were confident that the community’s ambitions to produce a President in 2032 would come to fruition through President Ruto.
“We have supported different people over the years but they never reciprocated or respected us. But it is only President Ruto who has demonstrated his desire to have a Luhya succeeding him after his two terms,” said Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula.
The leaders said they would fully support the President to ensure they developed the Western region.
“We made the decision to team up with Ruto to form Kenya Kwanza Coalition that eventually clinched the Presidency in 2022 and we are committed to sticking by him in 2027.
We shall unite our community as we expect better tidings come 2032,” said Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Mudavadi and Wetang’ula made the remarks on Saturday during the funeral ceremony of Mama Femina Khayisio, the mother of Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Mulele Ingonga.
An array of leaders from the community who attended the ceremony at Makunga in Mumias East Constituency of Kakamega County, urged Mudavadi and Wetang’ula to spearhead efforts to unite the community to ensure they cast their ballots in one basket come 2027 and thereafter.
“We have the numbers but are always weakened by divisions when elections come. This automatically waters down our bargaining power at the national level. This should change moving forward and I urge Musalia and Wetang’ula to take charge,” said COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli.
The sentiments were echoed by Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa who said political affiliations should not be used to weaken the community but instead empower the people economically.
“It is true that we belong to different political factions but our individual ambitions, interests and desires should not override the common good of our community, respective counties and entire region. We need to outgrow all these, unite and bargain for our people,” he said. MPs present said they were already rallying their respective constituents behind Mudavadi and Wetang’ula as they spearheaded efforts to unite Luhyas.