NAIROBI, Kenya – Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has made a bold and emotional claim about his own community -declaring the Luhyas the “poorest” people in Kenya and blaming the situation squarely on political disunity.
Speaking during an interview on The Situation Room, a popular Kenyan radio programme, Natembeya said the economic status of many Luhyas across the country was a reflection of deep-rooted political and structural failure.
“I think we, the Luhyas, are the poorest community in this nation,” the governor said. “Just look at the kind of lives our people live and the menial jobs they do all over the country.”
Without mincing words, he painted a stark picture.
“Someone gives birth in Murang’a, and they immediately want a house girl from Vihiga. Someone wants a watchman, they’ll look for a Luhya. Grave diggers are Luhyas,” he added.
His remarks, which were aired live, quickly spread across social media, drawing both praise and criticism.
For Natembeya, the issue is not just poverty -it’s how the Luhya people have been boxed into certain roles, and how their political choices have contributed to their current state.
“It’s all because of how we do our politics,” he said, suggesting that division, weak leadership, and lack of strategic direction have left the community behind.
A Divided House
While he did not name specific leaders, Natembeya’s frustration echoes a longstanding complaint among some Luhya voters – that despite being one of Kenya’s largest ethnic blocs, the community often lacks a united front when it matters most politically.
His comments appeared to double as a call to action, urging Luhyas to rethink how they engage in national politics, and to recognise how political fragmentation may be translating into economic neglect.
Online Reactions Mixed
Reaction to his statement has been swift. Some Kenyans lauded him for his honesty and bravery.
“Governor Natembeya has said the truth. Let’s stop pretending,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Others, however, took issue with the language he used, accusing him of reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
“He’s the governor of a county. He should talk about empowerment, not victimhood,” another user posted.
Whether one agrees with him or not, Natembeya has put the spotlight on an uncomfortable topic: the intersection of politics, ethnicity and poverty in Kenya.
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