There’s no doubt that H.E. George Natembeya is rapidly gaining ground as the leader of the emergent “Tawe Movement,” aimed at uniting the Mulembe Nation. His message and delivery are spreading like wildfire in western Kenya.
Many residents are quickly aligning with his brand of politics and his message. While many may think that he is fighting Honorable Moses Wetangula, the truth is quite the contrary.
Luhyias believe that they have played second fiddle in any political formation for many years, despite their numerical strength as the second-largest tribe in Kenya. A perceived lack of unity and self-centered leadership has led to the Luhyia community being taken for granted.
The emergence of H.E. George Natembeya’s Luhyia consciousness is a breath of fresh air, and his message is rapidly expanding beyond TransNzoia to Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, and Vihiga. Luhyias may finally have the leader they have been waiting for.
However, with ODM facing a leadership vacuum with the impending appointment of H.E. Raila Amollo Odinga as the AUC chairman, many names have been mentioned as possible replacements for Baba as ODM party leader. This includes H.E. Wycliffe Oparanya, H.E. Ali Hassan Joho, Hon. Opiyo Wandayi, Hon. Babu Owino, and Hon. Edwin Sifuna.
The election or appointment of a Luo as the ODM party leader will be a blessing to the “Tawe Movement.” It will cement the belief that Luhyias and many other tribes are merely bystanders in ODM and that the party has its owners, presenting itself as a national movement merely as a façade.
If recent pronouncements by Hon. Atandi in Siaya are anything to go by, then it will be a complete waste of time for H.E. Joho and H.E. Oparanya to think that they will be considered for party leadership positions.
H.E. George Natembeya, as the presumptive Luhyia Kingpin, will definitely cause jitters across the political divide. To avoid a political fallout, ODM could be forced to appoint Hon. Edwin Sifuna as its Party leader.
If that were to happen, it would mean that Sifuna becomes the highest-ranking Luhya leader in ODM. While Sifuna has projected the image of a national leader, being a Luhyia of the Bukusu subtribe and a young leader would either complicate or dim the “Tawe” movement.
On the other hand, it would probably embolden it if Hon. Sifuna and H.E. Natembeya teamed up to deliver the Mulembe vote.
A united Mulembe Nation would be a blessing to an emerging Luhyia leader who aligns with the new generation of leaders focused on delivering a united front.
If ODM insists on having a Luo as its party leader, then it will be a blessing to the “Tawe movement,” which will use Hon. Namwamba and H.E. Musalia Mudavadi and H.E. Wycliffe Oparanya as examples of Luhyia leaders whose ambitions were cut short for trying to ascend to the party’s leadership or were unceremoniously kicked out of ODM.
While H.E. Oparanya would make a great party leader, his impact would be negligible to the unstoppable “Tawe Movement” because it’s more of a generational change.
Sifuna as ODM Party Leader offers the much-desired leadership and generational change in ODM, has been a loyal party SG, and deserves consideration for the leadership position. Short of that, we are staring at a scenario where ODM will be reduced to the 1997 LDP party.
