National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has issued a strong call for respect and humility among emerging political leaders in the Western Kenya region, warning that rising public spats and political impatience among first-time MPs are jeopardising the community’s quest for national leadership.
Speaking in Khwisero Constituency during the commissioning of a Huawei-funded computer lab and classrooms at Namasoli Secondary and Shirotsa Comprehensive Schools, Wetang’ula lamented a “growing culture of disrespect” among youthful politicians. He singled out instances where junior leaders openly confront seasoned politicians, saying such actions breed division and stall progress.
“I have seen young leaders, some just starting their parliamentary journey, hurling insults at senior leaders in public. This will not earn them political mileage,” Wetang’ula cautioned. “We were once in their position, but we chose to respect those ahead of us. That is what helped us grow politically.”
Wetang’ula stressed that leadership is a product of mentorship, patience, and unity not raw ambition. He cautioned against the rush for power, warning that such impatience is harmful to both individual careers and collective regional aspirations.
He also reiterated the importance of unity among Luhya leaders, stating that internal wrangles, rather than voter disunity, continue to hinder the region’s dream of producing a president. “It’s not the people who are divided. It’s us, the leaders,” he said. “We must take responsibility and come together.”
During the same event, several Western Kenya MPs called on Wetang’ula, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya to consolidate their ambitions and agree on a single presidential flagbearer ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera led the call: “We are asking Wetang’ula, Oparanya, and Mudavadi to sit down and agree on who among them will lead us to State House. If they don’t, we will mobilise the community to make that decision for them.”
Other leaders who echoed the unity message included Fred Ikana (Shinyalu), Kakai Bisau (Kiminini), John Waluke (Sirisia), and Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, all underscoring the urgency of a unified front to bolster the Luhya community’s national political influence.
