February 16, 2025
Can Natembeya Succeed Where Other Western Leaders Failed

Can Natembeya Succeed Where Other Western Leaders Failed

Can Natembeya Succeed Where Other Western Leaders Failed

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya may be considered a newbie in politics, but his entry into the scene has ignited a firestorm in western Kenya and beyond.

Natembeya has challenged the status quo and entrenched political norms as he roots for accountable and transparent leadership.

His politics seems to resonate with the masses but, on the other hand, unsettling the Western political establishment, largely because of his confrontational approach to issues.

Without mincing words, Natembeya has even scolded established leaders from the region Kenya, such as Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Despite facing criticism and resistance, the former regional commissioner has remained firm that he will not be “cowed or stopped” from speaking his mind.

His Tawe Movement has been seen to represent defiance of the existing norms. Last weekend, Natembeya rattled government-allied leaders and politicians after calling out the state over a recent spate of abductions.

He said he would not be intimidated into submission and vowed to continue calling for accountability.

“I shall stand and speak for the people. I will not be cowed,” he said on January 4 on X after he came under fire for criticizing the government over reports of abductions at the burial of Wetangula’s mother, Mama Ann Nanyama.

Natembeya criticized the leaders who, he said, prioritize political grandstanding over addressing critical issues affecting Kenyans.

“Let it not be construed that condemning abduction is undermining the President. We all have a duty to remind state organs to adhere to the rule of law and our constitution’s principles,” he added.

Natembeya has not hidden his desire to be the Western region’s kingpin and unite the Luhya community for a common political agenda.

“I will not be cowed or stopped by hired street hoodlums. The dream of freeing the Luhya community from the chains of egocentric politicians will not be dimmed by corrupt politicians.”

Despite being the second-largest ethnic group in Kenya, the Luhya community has struggled to translate its numerical strength into political power at the national level. Formation of the Forum for The Restoration of Democracy pressure group that later became a full-fledged political party.

Together with other popular Young Turks, who included Raila Odinga, Paul Muite, James Orengo, and Gitobu Imanyara, Wamalwa pushed for constitutional reforms.

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, who is DAP-K’s first deputy party leader, said that Natembeya is trying to endear himself to the public using force while undermining his seniors in the political arena.

“He is doing this, yet he has no control even in Trans Nzoia. We are in DAP-Kenya together but our party is the minority in Trans Nzoia. The majority is … Ford Kenya and UDA,” Savula said.

“He therefore is not a force anywhere. He does not control any single MP.”

Political commentator Daniel Orogo, however, believes the Tawe Movement being championed by Natembeya will reshape the political landscape, specifically in western Kenya.

“The battle is for the soul of Luhya’s political kingship, upsetting the political status quo that has existed in western Kenya and taking advantage of the current political, social, and economic grievances affecting Kenyans,” he said.

However, Savula insists that the Luhya people want the kind of politics that was demonstrated by Wamalwa and Muliro.

“The perception [on the ground is that] he [Natembeya] is behaving like an administration police officer. He seems to embrace politics of confrontation,” he added.

Savula maintained that the Trans Nzoia governor is not going anywhere with his type of politics.

Luanda MP Dickson Maungu was quick to point out that the strategy being used by Natembeya to unite the Western region may not be the game changer.

“We have politicians who have been there for a long; talk of Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula. You may not agree with them, but you cannot unite the region by pulling them down,” Maungu said.

“He may have a good idea of uniting Western, but when he pulls down Musalia and Weta, Natembeya can only be a small kingpin in Trans Nzoia.” Maungu nonetheless commended Natembeya for speaking his mind.

“One thing that Natembeya has that others do not have is courage, but he may need a better way to work around his dream of uniting Western,” he added.

Political analyst Joseph Mutua said that the son of the Mulembe nation is trying to position himself as the kingpin of the Luhya community.

Secondly, he has been exhibiting a high level of boldness and courage when articulating his vision and agenda, according to Mutua.

“While casting the image of a holier-than-thou, he has been presenting himself as a person who holds the key of liberating his community from the bondage of the current crop of greedy and selfish Luhya leaders,” he added.

Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka is, however, adamant that Natembeya cannot unite western Kenya, saying he is working with enemies of the region.

“He cannot unite the region by joining forces with our enemies. You can only unite the region by working together with friends from other areas,” he said.

Aseka further said leaders should not correct others by insulting them. “Insulting Musalia and Weta does not make things better for him or the region,” he said.

“If he wants Western to unite, he must also lower his ego, and accept to work with others, and also appreciate the fact that those two were there before him and work with them.”

Orogo, however, maintained that Natembeya has proven critics wrong that the Tawe Movement is only popular in his Trans Nzoia backyard. He argues that the movement has now spread to other countries such as Busia, Vihiga, and Kakamega.

“However, to suppose that Natembeya could succeed in uniting the entire Luhya community and channeling their votes in one basket is biting more than one could chew. Natembeya must ride against the wave of a complex, fragmented Luhya ethnicity,” he said.

“Additionally, the Mulembe nation traditionally reveres older and politically experienced statesmen, a factor that works against the governor,” Orogo added.

He said Mudavadi and Wetangula are not only senior political leaders but are currently serving in senior government portfolios; hence, “going against them is a herculean task.”

On whether Natembeya can succeed where veteran Luhya leaders failed, Mutua said the Trans Nzoia governor still has a long way to go.

“If compared with Natembeya, Wamalwa and Muliro were far ahead. This is in terms of political maturity, grasp, and articulation of the interests of the Luhya community,” Mutua added.

He said the duo had worked very hard in trying to unite the Luhya community and ensure their leaders occupied the front seat of the high table, where the national cake was being shared.

“It is also wishful thinking for the governor to think that he has dwarfed Mudavadi and Wetangula in terms of popularity,” he said.

Luhyas have been incapable of producing a formidable presidential candidate in the past elections despite being second to Kikuyu, who have dominated the political landscape.

Luhya candidates have underperformed, unlike those from relatively smaller communities such as the Kalenjin or Luo.

Even as Natembeya remains determined in his resolve to unite the region, questions linger over whether he will succeed where others failed or even match the achievements of Kijana Wamalwa and Masinde Muliro, two prominent leaders who hail from the region.

Muliro was one of the central figures in the shaping of the political landscape in Kenya. An anti-colonial activist, he campaigned for the restoration of multi-party democracy in Kenya in his later years.

He was a strict, no-nonsense disciplinarian who despised handout politics, never gave or received bribes, but believed in equality and equity.

Wamalwa, a former vice president, was one of the so-called Young Turks, a group of second-generation Kenyan leaders who were behind.

Can Natembeya Succeed Where Other Western Leaders Failed