The latest episode of Political Ringside looks at a question many people in Western Kenya often ask. Why does the Mulembe Nation, which has a large population, seem to have so little real political power at the national level?
The show features a conversation between host Fridah Mong’are and Larry Chisiang’ani, a young man from Kakamega County who is running for senator under the United Democratic Alliance party.
He is one of the youngest among many aspirants in the race.
Larry explains that numbers alone do not bring power. What matters more is unity and clear strategy. He says the Mulembe people, mostly from the Luhya community, are scattered across different leaders.
There are voices like Sifuna, Mulavi, and others, but they often speak on their own without coming together on big issues. Leaders seem to gather only at funerals or during tough times, but when it comes to politics, they go separate ways.
Older figures such as Fred Gumo, and Eugene Wamalwa get mentioned as people who stay quiet or add to the divisions.
Larry points out that much of the problem comes from personal greed for power rather than any real difference in ideas or what is best for the community.
He describes how the region sometimes gets used as a voting block during elections. Presidents or big national players reach out to leaders in Western Kenya to get support, but after the votes are counted, the area does not always see lasting benefits.
Projects get started or promised, but many remain unfinished. For example, Larry talks about a level six hospital in Kakamega that was incomplete but is now being finished and set to launch soon.
There are also new tarmacked roads and plans for things like dairy plants. Still, he says some projects, like a tea plant in Malava, keep getting used in campaigns without full delivery.
On the government side, Larry believes the Mulembe Nation has aligned itself with the current leadership, and that has brought some visible work on the ground.
He urges opposition voices, including people like Eugene Wamalwa and Cleophas Malala, to consider joining efforts inside the government instead of fighting from outside.
Forming new parties or sticking with older ones like ODM or Ford Kenya, which he sees as losing strength, may not help as much as working from within to fix things.
A big part of the talk focuses on the role of young people. Larry notes that youth are often brought out in large numbers for rallies to show support, but when it comes to actual voting or making decisions, their voice is small.
Some young people even ask for money before they vote, which shows a need for better civic education. He wants the youth to register in large numbers.
In Kakamega alone, the goal is to reach one million voters by 2027, including many new ones. Larry believes politics does not have to cost a lot of money.
What is needed is a clear vision, good strategy, and the courage to talk about manifestos instead of just handouts.
He is honest about the challenges young aspirants face. Clan politics still play a strong role, and older people from certain clans get preferred.
Age matters too. Young leaders are sometimes looked down upon because they are not seen as senior enough. Public speaking, confidence, and even things like being married or owning a home can influence how people view a candidate.
Larry himself is unmarried, which he says makes him an exception, perhaps for a reason. He calls for mentorship from experienced leaders like Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, but he wants young people to push for change without breaking the whole system.
The idea is to reform things from the inside. Language also comes up as a small but real barrier. In village meetings, some older voters feel more comfortable with local dialects, while younger people may be stronger in English or Swahili.
Larry stresses that youth must build skills and organize themselves better. He says the new generation is hungry for change and tired of the same old cycles, but they need to move from complaints to action. Registering voters, learning how politics works, and choosing leaders based on ideas rather than tribe or short-term benefits are important steps.
The episode from Political Ringside does not sugarcoat the situation. It points out real cracks in leadership, the habit of division, and the slow pace of youth involvement. But it also offers practical ideas, such as focusing on unity, delivering projects through government alignment, and building strong voter bases.
