Western Kenya leaders have for a long time now given their electorate a raw deal by failing to stick together in order to have a bigger bargain when it comes to sharing of the national cake.
Luhya politicians have displayed an appalling level of confusion and inconsistency in meeting the needs of their constituents.
First, since time immemorial, the Mulembe community has been known to be democratic in their own selfish manner. They came together only at one point in time during the times of their great kingpins like Wamalwa Kijana, May God rest his soul in eternal peace, but right now, the Western region has nothing to smile about.
It is because of this selfish nature they exhibit, that makes them prone to barren political marriages.
Secondly, leaders from the community have stayed in the opposition for a very long time. Won't they have a turning point? It is only a fool who can't change his mind. If at one point they were in government for long, then the region would be singing and celebrating the fruits of their leadership, which unfortunately so far has only yielded bitter ones.
That is why president Uhuru Kenyatta bailed out Mumias sugar company and went ahead to sign trade a pact with the government of Uganda. Of course, this is called for.
Uganda produces about 465,000 tonnes of sugar every year against consumption of 320,000 tonnes meaning they remain with a surplus of around 145,000 tonnes of sugar. Kenya produces around 650,000 tonnes of sugar against a consumption of 860,000 tonnes leaving us with a deficit of about 210,000 tonnes of sugar, which must (with emphasis) be met through imports. So where is the problem in importing sugar from Uganda when we have several tonnes being brought in Kenya from Brazil through Somalia illegally?
Even with this international political economy, members of parliament form Western region have scolded President Kenyatta on the same. When shall we learn?
Someone tell Luhya leaders, Ababu Namwamba of Budalangi and Chris Wamalwa of Kimilili that they should work for the benefit of their region and not just for the sake of their bellies.
Likuyani Member of Parliament Enoch Kibunguchy was once quoted saying, "Whoever bewitched Luhya leaders must have died long ago". If I believed in witchcraft, I would have easily concurred with him.
If they united and spoke in one voice, perhaps they could understand the graph of Kenya economy and fought to better the living standards of the people of Western Kenya who are living in abject poverty.