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Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna. [File, Standard]
For decades, Western Kenya has been Kenyan politics’ sleeping giant. The Luhya have the second-largest vote after the Kikuyu, enough numbers to decide who goes to State House, but never enough unity to turn numbers into power. Rivalry, selfish ambition and split loyalties have always cost them the crown. The community has historically rallied behind different political camps depending on local interests and individual leaders.
That dominance was long personified by the old guard in the lineage of Masinde Muliro, Elijah Mwangale, Martin Shikuku, Moses Mudavadi and Kijana Wamalwa. In recent years, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, both key allies of President William Ruto, have carried that mantle. The way crowds were electrified following Linda Mwananchi's tour of Western shows how Sifuna has stolen the mojo from other presidential hopefuls.
Governor George Natembeya and Senator Edwin Sifuna have injected fresh hope into Luhya politics for the first time since Kijana Wamalwa. Sifuna, 43, is fearless, street-smart, eloquent in English and Kiswahili, and hardened by Nairobi's rough politics. He carries the passion and tenacity of his mentor Raila Odinga and has shown he can hold his own before any crowd. He gives the Opposition youth energy and a Luhya face without old guard baggage.
