Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi led a section of leaders from the Luhya community on Monday, June 1, affirming that they were still leading the region's voice.
In a joint statement, read by Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa, the leaders affirmed that COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Opraranyah and Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa weren't the community's spokespersons.
"Regardless of the position you have risen to, do not assume you speak for the community. In this regard, Francis Atwoli, Opranyah, and Wamalwa can't speak for the Luhya people," Wamalwa declared.
He further stated that the community issues could not be conversed outside their native homeland nor stage-managed by outsiders - referring to the meeting of Luhya leaders held at Atwoli's home in Kajiado.
"For the avoidance of doubt our leaders are Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula anyone who wants to work with the Luhya community must do so through the two," he added.
In the statement signed by a number of Luhya leaders including National Assembly Chief Whip Benjamin Washiali, Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Dan Wanyama (Webuye West), John Walukhe (Sirisia), the MP stated that the community had been used in previous cycles for other people's interests and later dumped at their convenience.
"We have previously worked with leaders from other communities and allowed them to enjoy leverage in certain situations because of what we understood as the greater good of our country
"We've done this in good faith and in expectation of mutual reciprocity. The minimum we expect is respect for our people. Some mistake that for weakness, they may begin thinking they can own you and rule you how they wish," he conveyed.
Wamalwa, who was recently ousted as the Senate Deputy Minority Whip further faulted the Orange Democratic Party for the disquiet in their region's politics.
"We have seen this under the ODM leadership under Raila Odinga who has been the single leading beneficiary of the support of the people of Mulembe. We have allowed him to be the compromise candidate even when we knew there were better candidates. In turn, he has behaved as the rude guest who rattles the house and upsets his welcome. He has encouraged the children to be rude to their elders," he stated.
Earlier reports indicated that Wetangula had been dismissed as the party leader of Ford Kenya following a meeting of the party's National Executive Council (NEC) with Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi selected to serve as the interim Party Leader.
Wetangula later fought back by dismissing the reports and announced that Secretary-General Eseli Simiyu would be replaced by Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa.
