Luyia

On August 14, a memorial service of the late champion of multi-party democracy Masinde Muliro was held at his Sibanga home in Trans Nzoia where Luhya bigwigs converged in a show of community unity.

Locally known as Eshiembekho, the shrine is managed by the Luhya Council of EldersThe centre was officially opened on December 13, 2008 by political and traditional leaders led by Orange Democratic Movement chief Raila Odinga as a project of the Nabongo Council of Elders, a team of advisers to the reigning king, Peter Shitawa Mumia II.Depicting the past and present leadership of the Wanga Kingdom, the centre boasts a mix of the modern and ancient.

The Gallup Poll findings from June through July 2008 show that among the top five ethnic groups in Kenya, which represent more than two-thirds of the national population (Kikuyu, 19%; Kalenjin, 15%; Luo, 13%; Luhya, 12%; and Kamba, 9%), the self-identified Kikuyu are the only group in which a majority (67%) say the presidential election was honest.

card showed a mixed Taita-Luhya name, they asked her to speak in Luhya to prove she wasn't a Kikuyu.

Rounding out the top five were, in order, the Luhyas, the Kambas and the Kalenjins.

class="font-size--16 MsoNormalLUHYA PRESIDENT class="font-size--16 MsoNormalMr Agoi said the region's economy will only be revived once a member of the Luhya community ascends to power.

He said the Luhya community has failed to use its numbers to win the presidency.

The Sunday Nation has separately established that the Mudavadi-Wetangula-Wamalwa alliance has set in motion an ambitious drive aimed at galvanising support from members of the Luhya, Teso and Sabaot communities, who reside in Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega and Vihiga counties in Western and Trans Nzoia in Rift Valley.

He said instead of the Luhya leaders uniting under one formidable political party, they were busy registering new ones.

A section of Luhya leaders has vowed to unite the community ahead of 2022 General Election.Sharing a platform for the first time since August last year, Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi, his Ford-Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang'ula and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa on Saturday stressed on the need for unity of purpose by the community.

Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi has asked Luhya leaders to stop demanding that other leaders back ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi's presidential bid.

"People are taking advantage of Mr Mudavadi's politeness to undermine the Luhya community.

Two political parties have been formed in Bungoma in the past one month and Luhya some Bungoma leaders warn that it might hamper unity.

The clamour for a merger between Amani National Congress (ANC) and Ford-Kenya parties was mooted to unify the vote-rich western region and have the Luhya vote in one basket.This, according to leaders in the parties led by Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang'ula, was meant to lock up the votes in a bid to have a better bargaining power in future elections.

DP William Ruto has been cautioned not to listen to Jubilee-leaning Luhya MPs on "begging mission" that they will deliver ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi to his camp.