National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has joined forces with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya in a coordinated political push aimed at uniting the Luhya community and strengthening its bargaining power ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in Seregeya village, Likuyani, during a condolence visit to the family of the late former MP Enoch Wamalwa Kibunguchy, Wetang’ula said the three senior leaders had agreed to close ranks and provide collective leadership for the Mulembe nation.
“If we are serious about uniting our people, we must first unite ourselves. That is why Mudavadi, Oparanya and I have agreed to put words into action,” Wetang’ula said.
He noted that the unity drive would be widened to include other leaders across Western Kenya, arguing that the Luhya community could only command meaningful influence in national politics if it spoke with one voice and voted as a bloc.
“Our strength lies in unity. As leaders, we have no option but to bring our people together as we look beyond the presidency of President William Ruto,” he added.
Wetang’ula, who serves as the third-in-command in President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration, said the leaders were mobilising the community to support the President’s re-election, saying a strong alliance with the current government would strategically position the region for the future.
He argued that the Luhya community stood a realistic chance of producing a president if it rallied behind President Ruto, who, after completing two terms, could back a candidate from Western Kenya.
The Speaker also mourned the deaths of two prominent Luhya figures — businessman and former Cabinet minister Cyrus Jirongo and former MP Kibunguchy — both of whom passed away during the festive season.
He urged leaders and young people to maintain dignity during funerals, warning against chaos and political disorder at burial ceremonies.
“Leaders who encourage disorder at funerals must stop this outdated behaviour and respect the dead and grieving families,” Wetang’ula said.
Recalling a past burial where he and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka were heckled, he described such conduct as un-African and contrary to Luhya traditions.
“We should not repeat the chaos witnessed during the burial of Kibunguchy’s mother. That behaviour does not reflect who we are as a people,” he said.
Wetang’ula also highlighted development projects underway in Western Kenya under President Ruto’s administration, including the resumption of works at Kakamega Level Six Hospital and plans for a similar facility in Bungoma County.
He said the projects would improve healthcare services and reduce the need for residents to seek specialised treatment in Eldoret or Nairobi. He also cited the tarmacking of key roads and the settlement of long-standing dues owed to former Pan Paper employees as signs of the government’s commitment to the region.
Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe said he had completed development projects initiated by the late Kibunguchy as a mark of respect.
“I made it my responsibility to ensure that all projects started by Dr Kibunguchy were completed in his honour,” Mugabe said.
Mugabe urged residents to rally behind Wetang’ula, describing him as the most senior leader from the region and a potential successor to President Ruto.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Kanduyi MP John Makali and Webuye East MP Martin Pepela, who said Wetang’ula was their preferred presidential candidate after President Ruto’s tenure.
“The Luhya community should unite in honour of Cyrus Jirongo and Kibunguchy, who were strong champions of our unity,” Pepela said.
Makali noted that Wetang’ula, as patron of the Western MPs Caucus, had played a key role in strengthening cohesion among leaders from the region.
Bungoma County Assembly Speaker Emmanuel Situma and Majority Leader Joseph Juma Nyongesa were among the leaders present.
Cyrus Jirongo will be laid to rest on December 30 at his Lumakanda home in Bungoma County.
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