Any Political Deal With The Luhya Without The Youth Is Dead On Arrival

It is a season of words. Big words. Small words. Thin words. Fat words. A season of lies and innuendos. It is a season of political alliances as well as political deals. Call it a season of madness but for the youth from the land of Mulembe, it is a season to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

Youth from the larger Western Kenya led by Steve Biko Wafula, the CEO of Hidalgo Group of Companies and Edwin Sifuna, the current Secretary-General of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have sent a stern warning against political fractions purporting to be holding the future of the whole region in their hands.

Speaking during a press conference attended by over 60 representatives from the counties of Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, and Trans-Nzoia at the United Club Kenya, the leaders said the time for old fogies in the political class taking advantage of the youth to fulfill their selfish political agenda was coming to an end.

We are saddened by the moves by some of our leaders with questionable character, lacking in zeal and vision who are inured by their myopia and selfish interests working hard to auction the community.

The said leaders have perfected the art of merchants by conning, conniving, and confusing our people. As Chinua Achebe says in the Man of the People, they have taken enough for the owner to notice. As a generation, it is time we call them out. Said the leaders in a statement.

In the past few weeks, the house of Mulembe seems to be in political limbo with political vehicles such as Ford Kenya being messy, noisy with visible casualties such as the party leader himself, Moses Masika Wetangula, the Senator for Bungoma County.

The youth leaders say there are high chances of the current generation missing out of political positions at the expense of the older generation that has refused to let the young generation steer the region in the right direction.

Leadership does not succeed itself. As a critical generation of the Luhya Nation, we cannot be ignored anymore. Ignoring us, elected or not, will be detrimental to the future of the community in diverse ways.

No one can purport to speak on behalf of the Luhya Community without involving us as the generation that holds the future of the community.

We are not tribal. Unfortunately, politics is played from the arena of the tribe and we will be pretending to you and lying to ourselves if we ignore the tribe aspect.

Steve Biko Wafula said: “We cannot sit and watch our leaders taking us into a political hole. If they are blind, at least those of us who can see should make some noise and bring them back to life. We cannot always be the only confused lot every election. We cannot afford to be always the one being used to propel others into leadership positions.”

Edwin Sifuna said: “We are not here to speak against any leader. That is not our agenda. We are here to make it clear that there are great young leaders in this country who can make a difference. We are here in our region. We are here to make a clear statement that we are able and capable.”