Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya hosted the Linda Mwananchi brigade at his Kitale home for a 10 hours meeting where they declared Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as their presidential candidate.
Natembeya was also endorsed to be the Luhya community spokesman at the critical meeting, which also agreed on several other moves ahead of next year’s general election.
It was the first time Sifuna and Natembeya held formal discussions on politics mostly focusing on the Luhya community where the two have emerged as influential ahead of the polls.
The Trans Nzoia governor said they had agreed to come up with a new pollitical formation to bring together the community where unity has been elusive for many years.
The new party will be announced soon and the leaders have lined up a series of meetings in the region starting with Kitale on Saturday to be followed by the main rally in Bungoma.
“We will have the main meeting in Bumgoma where all our key leaders will be present and where our elders will bless Sifuna and the entire team as we start the journey to fight for our people and Kenyans.”
Natembeya said they had allowed Sifuna to campaign for the presidency by seeking support from other communities across the country.
“As Sifuna goes out there seeking support from other Kemyans, we will remain here at home to strengthen our unity and mobilise residents for voter registration,” the governor added.
Natembeya will also lead meetings in all the 38 constituencies in the region to explain to residents about the fresh political dawn in the region.
The meeting in Kitale was also attended by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, MPs Jack Wamboka (Bumula and Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai), among others.
Sifuna hailed Natembeya for being a strong and principled leader as he urged Trans Nzoia residents to reelect him the governor for a second term.
The leaders said they would ensure the new party would control most seats in the region.
Sifuna said he had gone round the country and established that Kenyans were yearning for change with fresh leadership.
“I want to assure Natembeya and all other leaders and Kenyans that I will no let you down,” he said.
The Nairobi senator claimed the country was headed in the wrong direction due to bad leadership and corruption under the Kenya Kwanza regime headed by President William Ruto.
Osotsi said the meeting in Kitale was a major turning point in the country’s politics.
