- Trans Nzoia Luhya Council of Elders is divided on who will support him for the 2027 governorship
- One group recently endorsed former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa for the seat, but another group later emerged, rejecting the original position.
- Current Member of Parliament for Kiminini Kakai Bissau and former Minister of Health Susan Nakhumicha are among other politicians hoping for the seat
Kitale – A sharp division has emerged between two factions of the Luhya Council of Elders in Trans Nzoia county.
Source: Facebook
The division is related to the council’s choice of gubernatorial candidate in the 2027 General Election.
Who did the Luhya elders vote for for Trans Nzoia governorship?
One group, led by Christopher Makokha and Ferdinand Wanyisia, campaigned for former Kiminini Member of Parliament Chris Wamalwa for the 2027 governorship on Tuesday, November 18.
Speaking to journalists at the residence of Wamalwa Kananachi, Makokha said that, after extensive consultation, they had agreed with the former MP who was defeated by Governor George Natembeya in 2022.
“We have promoted our son, Dr. Chris Wamalwa, as our candidate to replace Natembeya, who is now focusing on national politics. Our endorsement is final, and we will not endorse anyone else,” Makokha said.
Source: Original
However, after the approval, another group led by John Sululu, the chairman of the council, criticized the Makokha group, accusing them of seeking livelihood and greed.
Speaking to journalists at the Kiminini state office in the city KitaleSululu claimed that the group that supported the former member of parliament was removed from office and cannot make any decision on behalf of the respected body of the Luhya community.
“We don’t know you and we don’t recognize you because your time in the office ended. Who allowed you to approve Chris Wamalwa? Nothing else sent you, it was your stomach that sent you. Eat and have enough but until you pass into my office,” Sululu said.
Such sentiments were shared by the secretary of the council, David Tulula, who said the first group of elders were impersonators who wanted to create division among the Luhya community.
The elders said that their eyes are on the current Member of Parliament for Kiminini, Kakai Bisau, who has declared his interest in the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial seat.
“All influential elders in Trans Nzoia have identified Kakai Bisau as their preferred candidate because we believe and have seen that he has a great network that can bring in investors and, in turn, create jobs for our unemployed sons and daughters,” one of the elders said.
Source: Original
Wamalwa ran for the governor’s seat in 2022 on the FORD-Kenya ticket, while Bissau ran for the top county seat twice, in 2013 and 2017, both times losing to former governor Patrick Khaemba.
Local political analyst Rose Nduta warned the Luhya community against showing division over their choice of the seat before the 2027 elections.
“My simple advice to the Mulembe Nation is that they should be very careful and calculated when approaching this sensitive issue. What the elders represent should not be ignored,” Nduta said.
Will Susan Nakhumicha run for Trans Nzoia governorship?
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that the former Minister of Health Susan Nakhumicha had hinted at joining the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial race.
Nakhumicha said she was no longer interested in the seat of the county’s female member of parliament, which she ran for unsuccessfully in 2022.
The former minister is currently Kenya’s permanent representative at the United Nations (UN).
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
