DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa has rejected claims of political divisions among the Luhya community, saying the differences are confined to leaders backing different political formations.
Wamalwa said the community remains united despite political disagreements among its leaders, with some supporting President William Ruto’s re-election while others believe the Kenya Kwanza administration has failed to fulfil its promises.
“I think it’s a fallacy to say that the Luhya are divided because the people are not divided. The leaders are divided and mainly in different parties,” Wamalwa said during a recent media interview.
He said the community is currently looking at two main political formations based on differing assessments of the Ruto administration.
Wamalwa nevertheless maintained that political differences among leaders should not be interpreted as divisions among the wider Luhya population.
“There are those who believe that William Ruto has done very well and deserves a second term; we respect their position. There are those of us who feel there are a lot of unfulfilled promises,” he said.
Wamalwa’s remarks come amid heightened political activity in the Western region as the 2027 General Election draws closer.
The DAP-Kenya leader said political differences should not translate into hostility among supporters, urging competing camps to focus on presenting their policies and ideas to voters.
He particularly cautioned against political violence, saying leaders should be allowed to campaign freely across constituencies and counties without intimidation or disruption.
He called for both sides of the political divide to be given equal opportunity to present their agendas to voters across the region.
“Let the Wantam people move to every constituency, subcounty and county in the region to sell their Wantam agenda. Likewise, allow the Tutam teams to move,” Wamalwa said.
“We are arguing to compete on ideas and policies.”
The DAP-Kenya leader appeared to contrast the political activities of competing camps, noting that senior Western Kenya leaders Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula have continued traversing the region to mobilise support.
“Our big brothers Musalia, Weta, they are all moving around. We have not seen a situation where we the Wantam people are attacking our Tutam brothers,” he said.
He urged politicians and their supporters to reject violence as a means of settling political differences.
“We don’t want that kind of politics. Let not violence decide for us. Let our policies be sold in a free and fair environment and allow the people to decide,” Wamalwa said.
He said voters should be trusted to assess competing platforms and determine which political direction they want to take, without leaders turning their differences into conflict.
The region, comprising Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga and Trans Nzoia counties, commands more than 3 million registered voters, making it a significant bloc in the contest.
Leaders including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, alongside several governors from the region, have been mobilising support for President William Ruto’s re-election bid.
Meanwhile, opposition-aligned figures including Wamalwa, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna are seeking to consolidate support for an alternative political platform.
