NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged the Luhya community to unite, asserting that their numbers could be decisive in forming the next government.
Speaking on Tuesday during an interview on vernacular radio stations, Gachagua said the Western Kenya voting bloc has long lacked cohesion, weakening its political bargaining power.
“Where I am, that is where the government will be. I have extensive political experience because I studied political science at university,” Gachagua stated.
He lamented that the Luhya community has historically been sidelined in national politics, often settling for “leftovers” instead of claiming leadership roles.
“A game with the Mulembe Nation in the equation is game over,” he declared, emphasizing that a united Western Kenya, allied with the Mount Kenya region, could easily form the next administration.
Gachagua pointed to historical precedents, recalling the 2002 elections when the Luhya community played a crucial role in the victory of former President Mwai Kibaki.
He urged them to take a similar stand in the upcoming polls.
“We are about to have another 2002 moment—just as the Mulembe Nation was part of the government then, it can once again help shape the next administration,” he said.
His remarks come just days after President William Ruto concluded a six-day tour of the region, signaling a growing political scramble for Western Kenya’s support as the country gears up for the next election.
