‘Mulembe Nation’ unity key to 2032 State House bid, Ndakwa, Farouk, Panyako ally say

For the Mulembe nation to ascend to the country’s top leadership, unity and the pursuit of strategic political alliances across the country will be critical.

Such alliances, leaders say, will be key in securing the numbers needed to back a Luhya presidential candidate as the region positions itself ahead of the 2032 General Election, when President William Ruto is expected to leave office.

In one of his maiden speeches after being elected Malava MP on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, David Ndakwa challenged the Mulembe nation to rally behind its leaders instead of constantly belittling, criticising or doubting their ability to offer effective leadership.

Ndakwa said the region has the numerical strength to attract support from other parts of the country, noting that Western Kenya has for years backed leaders from other communities to clinch the presidency. He argued that the time was now ripe for the Mulembe nation to take up the mantle of national leadership in 2032.

The new MP, however, cautioned against the tendency to undermine elected leaders from the region who currently occupy top national positions. These include Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya, whom he said are spearheading the Luhya National Transformation political agenda.

“Let us first start by embracing our own leaders and accepting that, even if they may not be perfect, they are the ones we have at the top and are capable of delivering the presidency,” Ndakwa said. “Then let us seek like-minded communities and supporters who are ready to walk with us to prosperity. Our neighbours from the Rift Valley, including the Kalenjin, have already shown willingness to support us as a return for the backing we gave President William Ruto in 2022 and the support we continue to give him ahead of 2027.”

Ndakwa singled out Mudavadi as the most sellable and widely acceptable presidential candidate to succeed President Ruto once his second term expires. He urged voters in the region to take Mudavadi’s presidential ambitions seriously.

He added that Mudavadi’s long experience in national politics and his mature political approach make him a suitable candidate to take over the country’s leadership in 2032.

“We want to seal all political loopholes in Malava and the entire Western region so that there is no room for the opposition to undermine or de-campaign our able leaders,” Ndakwa said.

Presidential aide Farouk Kibet also assured the Mulembe nation of support in the 2032 succession debate, urging the community to put aside internal political differences and focus on the bigger prize.

He commended Malava voters for their conduct during the recent by-election and called on them to stand firmly behind President William Ruto as he seeks a second and final term in office.

Kibet described the choice of candidate as exemplary, saying Ndakwa was destined for greater political responsibility in the years ahead.

He further assured residents that the government remained committed to uplifting Malava and its people, provided they continue to support the broad-based government formation.

During the event, the two leaders received Evans Lutta commonly known as Toboa, a former staunch supporter of DAP-Kenya Malava aspirant Seth Panyako, who pledged to work with the government to ensure effective service delivery to the people.

Toboa also declared his support for President Ruto’s second-term bid, promising to contribute towards its realisation.