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By Good Morning Kenya Political Desk – Kakamega, 08/08/2025
After the passing of towering Luhya leaders like Masinde Muliro, Musa Mudavadi, Peter Okondo, and the charismatic Michael Kijana Wamalwa, the Mulembe nation has been groping for unity. For decades, political cohesion has remained elusive, and the dream of marching to State House as a united front has repeatedly crumbled.
The longevity of COTU boss Francis Atwoli as “the eternal SG” has done little to rally the Luhya vote into a single, decisive bloc. And despite their seniority, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula’s supremacy battles have slowed the region’s march towards national power.
“It is one of the tragedies of our politics that despite our numbers, we remain divided by ego and personal ambition,” lamented a veteran political observer in Kakamega. “Atwoli, Mudavadi, and Wetangula have failed to unite us or fight for our real interests.”
Mudavadi–Wetangula Rivalry
In 2013, Mudavadi ran for president while Wetangula sided with Raila Odinga in CORD — a move that left Mudavadi politically exposed and handed Odinga an opening to dismantle him.
Four years later, in 2017, the duo closed ranks under NASA, hoping to unseat the Uhuru–Ruto alliance. But their failure to consolidate the Luhya vote cost the opposition dearly, as Jubilee made deep inroads in the region. Political analyst Herman Manyora summed it up bluntly: “Wetangula and Mudavadi have always shown their inability to understand — and more importantly, relate to — their constituency.”
2022: Short-Lived Triumph
In 2022, they gambled again — this time backing William Ruto. Wetangula hedged his bets, running for Bungoma senator before ascending to the Speaker’s chair, while Mudavadi’s influence waned after ODM swept his supposed home turf of Vihiga and Kakamega.
In Vihiga, Senator Godfrey Osotsi delivered ODM’s victory in the senatorial race, the governorship, and two out of five parliamentary seats, with ODM also dominating the county assembly.
The Rise of the Young Turks
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, once seen as a protégé of Raila, has evolved into a fierce grassroots mobilizer. His ability to connect with ordinary citizens has positioned him as a rising force in Mulembe politics.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, a former ANC secretary general and now ODM deputy party leader, is winning hearts with his bold positions on national issues, staunch defense of devolution, and open-door policy for constituents.
“In Osotsi,” says political commentator Mwalimu Amunga, “we see Eric Khasakhala, Musa Mudavadi, Wamalwa Kijana, and Martin Shikuku all rolled into one. He listens, he acts, and he carries the aspirations of the people.”
Natembeya’s ‘Tawe’ Wave
In Trans Nzoia, Governor George Natembeya’s TAWE movement has captured public imagination. Unafraid to call Mudavadi and Wetangula “tumbocrats” feeding off the Luhya name, Natembeya has become the face of a restless generation unwilling to play second fiddle in national politics.
A Shifting Tide
The once-unassailable triumvirate of Atwoli, Mudavadi, and Wetangula now faces growing dissent from within. Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala — allied to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua — and MP Ayub Savula have all signaled that the old guard’s era may be coming to an end.
Osotsi, Sifuna, Natembeya, and Amisi are redefining Luhya politics — and shaking the once-unshakable grip of Atwoli, Mudavadi, and Wetangula. As dissent grows, even DCP’s Cleophas Malala and MP Ayub Savula say it’s time for the old order to step1
Whatever the eventual outcome, one thing is clear: a Mulembe renaissance is in motion — and it threatens to sweep away the political comfort of the old order.
