On Political Ringside, youthful senatorial aspirant Larry Chisiang’ani said the Mulembe Nation has the numbers to be a major political force in Kenya, but lack of unity among leaders has stopped the community from turning that strength into real national influence.
Speaking with host Fridah Mong’are, he explained that the Luhya community in Western Kenya continues to struggle politically because leaders often work separately instead of speaking with one voice.
Chisiang’ani said the region has many strong political figures, which should be an advantage, but most of them pull in different directions.
Leaders like Edwin Sifuna, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and others often appear to focus on separate political interests instead of building a shared agenda for the community.
He noted that the Mulembe Nation easily comes together during funerals and social gatherings, but when it comes to serious political decisions, unity becomes difficult.
He also pointed out that older leaders such as Fred Gumo and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi were expected to guide the community and help shape a clear political direction. However, many of them have either gone silent or chosen personal political paths, leaving younger leaders without strong mentorship.
According to him, this gap has made it harder for the younger generation to organize itself.Another major issue he raised was greed for top seats.
Chisiang’ani said many politicians are unwilling to step aside or support others for the good of the wider community.
Instead, there is constant competition for powerful positions, creating divisions and weakening the region’s bargaining power at the national level.
He said some older politicians also resist young aspirants simply because of age or lack of long political experience.
He compared this to places like Luanda, where leaders seem more focused on completing development projects and serving residents rather than fighting over titles. He argued that leadership should be about service and results, not endless battles for power.
The discussion also touched on how national politicians often approach the Mulembe Nation mainly as a voting block during elections.
During the 2022 campaigns, there were strong efforts to win Western Kenya support by offering key positions like deputy president or involving the Speaker more closely.
While this brought some benefits, Chisiang’ani said many promises do not lead to lasting development.
In Kakamega County, he mentioned progress such as the completion of the level six hospital project, which had stalled for years.
The national government has now taken over the project, and it is expected to be launched by the president in September.
This will reduce the need for patients to travel to Eldoret or Nairobi for advanced treatment. Roads have also been improved, helping business growth, while plans for a dairy plant could create more opportunities if completed.
Youth involvement was another key part of the conversation. Chisiang’ani said young people form a large part of the population, but they are often only used to fill rallies instead of being involved in real decision-making.
Many vote based on immediate needs, with some asking for money before casting their ballots.
Hunger and short-term survival often influence choices more than long-term leadership plans.
He said young leaders also face barriers such as clan politics, family expectations, marriage pressure, and lack of confidence when addressing older voters.
Sometimes even language becomes a problem when young politicians use English instead of local languages during village meetings.
Despite this, he believes success in politics does not always depend on huge amounts of money. Strategy, clear ideas, and consistency matter more.
He encouraged young people to register as voters and start by contesting smaller seats like MCA positions before aiming for bigger offices.
He said Kakamega currently has around 800,000 voters, and the target should be to reach one million by 2027.
That would give the region stronger political weight. He also called on older leaders to mentor young aspirants instead of blocking them.
Chisiang’ani concluded that the Mulembe Nation must focus on vision, service delivery, and accountability instead of tribe and short-term emotions.
He said real political strength will only come when leaders and citizens choose unity over personal ambition and work together for long-term development.
