During the Moi era, a Cabinet Minister was not just a government official. He was a powerful force who could tilt development, resources, and opportunities towards his community. A ministerial docket meant influence, money, and access. It was a reward from the president that communities expected their leaders to use for their collective benefit.
Take the example of Simeon Nyachae. When he became Minister for Finance after Musalia Mudavadi, Kisii people felt the impact. Under his reign, what any Kisii needed was just an ID to walk into a National Bank branch and secure a loan. Towards the 1997 elections, Nyachae even forced President Moi to declare at Gusii Stadium that farmers’ loans with National Bank be written off, a move that, while controversial, showed he was ready to use his office to directly benefit his people. His tenure left a mark in Kisii land.
Now, compare that with Musalia Mudavadi. For over 30 years from Moi’s era, through Kibaki and now in Ruto’s government. Mudavadi has occupied some of the most powerful Cabinet positions: Finance, Transport & Communication, Agriculture, Local Government, Supplies & Marketing, and today Prime Cabinet Secretary. These were not small offices. Each of them was powerful enough to transform the fortunes of the Luhya nation, just as other leaders did for their regions.
Yet, despite holding all these portfolios, there is no single transformative project or policy that Mudavadi can point to as his legacy in Western Kenya. Nothing.
Moi himself used to mock the Luhya community whenever they approached him for development. His response was always the same: “Kijana yenu ndiye anashikilia pesa ya Kenya, Waluhya mnataka nini kwangu?” Moi knew that Mudavadi, at Finance, had all it took to empower his people, just like Nyachae did for Kisii. But Mudavadi never rose to the occasion. He sat in office, enjoyed the privileges, but left his community empty-handed.
Three decades later, Mudavadi is still in government but the Luhya nation remains at the periphery of Kenya’s development map. This history teaches us one thing: Positions don’t automatically translate to empowerment. It takes leadership with vision and courage to stand for the people.
It is time for fresh leadership. Leadership that will not just occupy positions, but will use power to transform the lives of our people and leave a mark for generations to come.
Bantu MEDIA 