Western Kenya's long quest for one political voice amid divisions

The late Vice President Michael Wamalwa Kijana. (Courtesy)

The sprawling, fertile lands of Western Kenya, home to the Luhya people, have long been a battleground for political influence.

The dream of a unified Luhya bloc, a formidable force capable of shaping national politics, has flickered and flared for decades, yet remains tantalisingly out of reach.

From the era of Masinde Muliro through to Wamalwa Kijana and now the contemporary landscape dominated by seasoned politicians, the quest for Luhya unity has been a recurring theme, often punctuated by fleeting moments of promise followed by familiar patterns of fragmentation.

The Luhya, Kenya’s second-largest ethnic group, possess the numerical strength to wield significant political power.

However, this potential has consistently been undermined by internal divisions, rivalries, and a perceived susceptibility to external political manipulation.

The region’s political history is littered with failed alliances, broken promises, and the rise and fall of leaders who sought to shepherd the community towards a cohesive political identity.

Early attempts at unity, spearheaded by figures like Muliro and Kijana, were often rooted in a shared sense of marginalisation and a desire for equitable representation.

However, these efforts were frequently thwarted by the machinations of the ruling party, which skilfully exploited existing fissures within the community.

The legacy of patronage politics, where individual leaders prioritised personal gain over collective interests, further exacerbated the problem.

In subsequent decades, the dream of Luhya unity continued to resurface, often coinciding with election cycles. Various political figures emerged, each claiming to possess the key to unlocking the community’s potential.

However, these attempts were often marred by personality clashes, competing ambitions, and a lack of a clear, unifying ideology.

The region became a battleground for political heavyweights, each vying for supremacy and ultimately contributing to the fragmentation that had plagued the community for so long.

The narrative of Luhya unity is a tapestry woven with threads of hope, disappointment, and a persistent yearning for a collective voice. The recurring theme is the inability to transcend individual ambitions and forge a lasting, cohesive political identity.