Elders in Vihiga County in the Western region have locked horns amid emerging rifts following the endorsement of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya as the spokesperson of the Luhya community last Saturday.
In a daring move, Governor Natembeya, who is increasingly positioning himself as the face of Western Kenya’s political re-awakening and calling for a radical shift in the region’s leadership, convened a rally at Mudete in Sabatia, the hometown of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, literally taking the war to his doorstep.
In the meeting, elders from the four sub-tribes in Vihiga endorsed him as the Western region spokesperson, a position that Mr Mudavadi lays claim to.
Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya while receiving medical equipment from donors at Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital on June 27, 2025.
Photo credit: Evans Jaola | Nation Media Group
Five days later, another group of elders dismissed Mr Natembeya’s endorsement, accusing the elders who presided over the endorsement of impersonating the “real elders”.
The elders under the Western Region Council of Elders (Vihiga Chapter) termed the “blessing” of Mr Natembeya as a “fraudulent activity conducted by imposters, masquerading as members of Vihiga Council of elders”.
Rev Simon Muhindi, the chairperson of the Vihiga chapter of the Western region’s council of elders, and Mr John Chepseba, the Terek community leader, led other elders in slamming the handing of powers to Mr Natembeya.
During his endorsement, Mr Natembeya was handed a symbolic staff and a fly whisk to signify leadership and spearhead unity across Western Kenya. He said that despite the people of Mulembe being the second most populous in the country, they lack political influence, which is critical to development.
“We cannot be taken for granted all these years. This time our votes must count,” he said.
His fiery remarks through his Tawe Movement underscore a larger political plan to galvanise the Western region into a voting bloc that could change the traditional political alignment.
“The real council members are here. These are the people mandated with the leadership of all cultural activities in Vihiga. Anything coming from any other group is null and void,” said Rev Muhindi.
The elders, also drawn from the four tribes in Vihiga (Maragoli, Banyore, Tiriki and Terek) expressed their confidence in Mr Mudavadi’s leadership, describing him as the only vocal leader with the express mandate to steer the affairs of the region.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
Mr Mudavadi was installed as the Mulembe spokesman on December 31, 2016.
On Saturday, Mr Natembeya visited the Shiembekho Shrine in Matungu, Kakamega County, where he paid a courtesy visit to King Mumia II and sought his blessing.
Mr Natembeya said that he had decided to make a pilgrimage to the Nabongo shrine, saying it was equivalent to the Biblical Jerusalem.
“This is a sacred place — the Jerusalem of Western cultural activities — where people go to seek blessings. I have met King Mumia II, and I am confident that from this day forward, my endeavours will be more successful," he said.
He said that he had taken on the responsibility of liberating the people and economy of the Western region.
“I know many leaders oppose my movement because they benefit from our people remaining poor and working for them as cooks, watchmen, and firewood splitters at funerals. But I will not relent, regardless of the resistance they put up," he added.
King Peter Mumia II promised to mobilise all political leaders in the region to promote unity of the Mulembe nation.
“The big task ahead is to bring all leaders together so that we can move forward as a united front. I am inviting other leaders to visit the elders as Natembeya does," said King Mumia II.
However, during the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) centenary celebrations in Nyang'ori, Vihiga County, same day, Mr George Aladwa, MP for Makadara, and Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli insisted that Mr Mudavadi remain the community spokesperson.
“Our leader is Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi; do not be swayed by other people,” said Mr Aladwa.
Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu-K) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli at a past event.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
Mr Atwoli stated that the elders met in December 2016 and agreed that Mr Mudavadi should be the community's official spokesperson.
"Once the elders of the entire community have appointed him as our spokesperson, nobody is permitted to appoint themselves as the new leader while the current one is still alive. Those who are thirsty for power must take it slow,” said Mr Atwoli.
The endorsement has stirred a political debate. It not only positions the governor as Mr Mudavadi’s closest political rival in the region but also threatens the influence of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and Cabinet secretary for Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Mr Wycliffe Oparanya, former MP Mukhisa Kituyi, former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati and Mr Natembeya’s own Democratic Action Party of Kenya party Leader Eugene Wamalwa.
The problem Mr Natembeya has had with the existing political leaders from the region is that they have not been pushing enough for the development of the region despite years sitting at the table where the national cake is shared.
For the first time as governor, the leaders have resorted to benefiting themselves rather than bargaining for bigger benefits for the entire community.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula during the Kenya Kwanza Kisumu County Tuk Tuk Sacco empowerment event on August 2.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
But Mr Wetang’ula and Mr Mudavadi have also not spared the governor, telling him to concentrate on development instead of politics.
“I will never be a governor. Do not wake up talking about Musalia. Tell the people what you are going to do for them: hospitals, schools and improving agriculture. Speaking about us does not guarantee you re-election. What instils confidence in the people is working for them,” said Mr Mudavadi at a past event.
Governor Natembeya and Mr Wetang’ula are from the same Luhya sub-tribe, the Bukhusu, and are scrambling to become their spokesperson.
Mr Wetang’ula has always defended his track record and the development he has brought to the Western region.
During the recent tour of the region by President Ruto, he indicated that his work is evident and therefore doesn’t need to shout about it.
“You will not see me in funerals or markets counting what I have done or the people I have helped. It is evident and I do not have time to insult or look down upon other people like some other young people. It is you who have made me the third in command in this country and, therefore, I must carry your dignity and respect everywhere I go,” said Mr Wetang’ula.
After the death of Masinde Muliro and former Vice President Kijana Wamalwa, no Luhya leader has been able to exert total influence across the five counties of the Mulembe nation: Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, and Trans Nzoia.
Politicians who have attempted to unite them have only managed to galvanise either one subtribe of the Luhya or a particular county.
For instance, Mr Wetang’ula’s influence is mainly around Bungoma; Mr Oparanya in Kakamega; the likes of Governor Paul Otuoma in Busia; and Mr Mudavadi in Vihiga, where he appears to be struggling to stamp his authority after failing to have an MP from his backyard elected on his party in 2022.
ODM party leader Raila Odinga. Inset: (From left) Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, President William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The lack of a straight-out kingpin has always left a gap for other politicians with influence, such as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to emerge as the unifying factor for the Mulembe nation.
It is this leadership void that Mr Natembeya is seeking to fill and upset the establishment, a move that has rattled the seasoned politicians from the region.
According to Prof Gitile Naituli, a political analyst, what Mr Natembeya is doing is what any other politician should do — you take the political space because you will not be given.
“Natembeya has figured out something about the older politicians who are always following other people and therefore cannot be presidents.
He seems to be determined to lead, and that is why he is occupying the vacuum left by the other politicians in Western,” said Prof Naituli.
His political manoeuvres are also unsettling some of his allies in the United Opposition, with a clear clash between him and Mr Wamalwa, his party leader. At some point, Mr Natembeya was accused of attempting a coup within the party.
Some have also branded him a project of the State being used to destabilise the opposition from within.
But on the other hand, his influence has also caught the eye of President William Ruto and the recent raid on his home and office by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission was viewed by his supporters as an attempt to silence him and dim his star.
But Mr Natembeya, too, is facing stiff competition from youthful leaders like Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna, former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, Saboti’s Caleb Amisi, Mumias East’s Peter Salasya and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Ososti, who are also fed up with the status quo and are slowly gaining popularity in the Mulembe nation, both nationally and at the local level.
