Luhya unity will remain a pipe dream as long as the region lacks a strong political and economic base.
Western region leaders are blamed for not raising concerns over the poor local economy.
Luhya leaders seem to have given up on the elusive community unity to front a presidential candidate.
They opine that the failure to rally behind one candidate during elections and the tendency to split the electoral bloc has devalued the Luhya’s stature as the second largest (some demographers say the largest) community, and caused them to be overshadowed politically.
It is impossible for the community to produce a single presidential candidate, leaders from several parties said at a funeral in Sirisia constituency.
The leaders, among them Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, said those who have declared interest in the presidency from the Mulembe nation should run their own races.
“Let everyone run his own race. We can’t sit down to agree on who to support, even in other regions leaders emerge and no one sits to agree on one,” Wangamati said.
He said the reason why most of them had opted to work with DP William Ruto was because the presidential candidates in the region were jokers.
His sentiments were echoed by Deputy Governor Ngome Kibannai, who said Luhya unity talk on a single candidate should be shelved as it is impossible.
“The Luo did not sit anywhere to endorse Odinga, even when he was being challenged by the likes of Orengo after the demise of Jaramogi. He emerged among the many to become the political supremo,” he said.
The situation was the same with Ruto among the Kalenjins and Uhuru Kenyatta among the Kikuyus.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa dismissed the quest for Luhya unity as a big joke, adding that there are many jokers who can’t win presidency .
“It is only in this community that everyone thinks he can be President, which is not possible. In fact, anyone who declares interest in the presidency in the region should be ignored or sent to political oblivion,” he said.
Ford Kenya and ANC parties which are headed by leaders from the region have been working on the modalities of a merger, with a view to front either Musalia Mudavadi or Senator Moses Wetang’ula for the presidency in 2022.
But ANC secretary general Barrack Muluka, who attended the function, said the unity talks were at advanced stage.“Wetang’ula and Musalia are committed to ensure the community speaks with one voice,” Muluka said.