Luhya Leaders Meet In Kakamega, Is It A Looming New Dawn For Mulembe Nation?
The Mt Kenya Times 
Governor George Natembeya, UDA SG Cleophas Malala, former CS Rashid Echesa among other leaders from Western Region during the Mulembe People's Assembly in Kakamega County on Monday, July 29. Photo : Cleophas Malala.
By Sefu Sabila
After President William Ruto’s nomination of four Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM) members to his cabinet, mixed reactions have been expressed by leaders from different political divide.
Ruto’s list was filled with close allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga, ODM deputy leader Hassan Ali Joho to lead the ministry of mining, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi to the ministry of Energy and nominated MP John Mbadi was nominated to the ministry of National Treasury.
Expressing their dissatisfaction of the president’s nomination, a section of leaders from the Luhya community met in Kakamega on Monday to deliberate the state of the community in the country’s political sphere, dubbed Mulembe People’s Assembly.
The leaders led by Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party Secretary General Cleophas Malala, former Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa and MPs from the larger western counties.
In the assembly, the leaders came out with six resolutions for the Mulembe people in the quest of aligning the community in the country’s political sphere.
Among the six key resolutions of the meeting include use of the community’s numerical strengthen to form or bargain with the government, elected political leaders must discard their political differences and pull together towards a unified center, future finance bills will passed based on benefits assured to Mulembe Nation.
The leaders from the region have been urged to firmly hold their positions in trust of the people, and be accountable to the people of Mulembe, the selected oversight committee to take note of all development projects initiated in Western region, and lastly the next meeting will be centered towards matters of progress of projects in the current budget as highlighted by the selected multi-sectorial committee.
Natembeya said the community’s negligence in shaping the country’s politics has been witnessed for long, despite being the second largest community in the country, has largely remain behind in shaping the politics of the country.
“We are the second largest community in the country, where is the voice as of Mulembe. When people are planning of their community what is our place as a community. Who is the leader of the Mulembe when the politics of the nation are being discussed? Politics is about the numbers, as community how have we utilized our numbers to stop asking for what positions we have been given,” Natembeya stated.
Echesa decried the failure of the Kenya Kwanza government to keep its promise in ensuring the community receives 30% share in government, triggered the call for Mulembe People’s Assembly.
“The 30% we were promised by the Kenya kwanza government was not upheld, that is why were are here to unity our people and chant our way forward as a community,” he lamented.
However, the community received one nomination to the cabinet, of former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya was selected to spearhead the Cooperatives and MSMEs ministry previously held by Simon Chelugui.
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