Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat and former Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha, has urged the Luhya community to take full advantage of its presence in government rather than begging for recognition.
Speaking during the burial of Mama Agatha Nyambura Grade One, mother to former Sports CS Ababu Namwamba, Nakhumicha said it was time for the community to unite and demand what is rightfully theirs.
“We, as the Luhya community, must open our eyes. As the Bukusu say, if you want to enjoy the good food prepared by your mother, you must eat it while she is still in the house. This government is ours, and we have the right to benefit from it,” she said.
Nakhumicha stressed the need for unity, warning against leaders who attempt to divide the community. She added that the Luhya have both the numbers and capacity to secure meaningful positions of influence.
“Even Ambassador Ababu Namwamba can be a leader here. Even I, it is not just the face, but the brains and competence. You have seen that whenever we are given responsibility, we deliver,” she added.
She emphasized that the community must focus on “addition and multiplication, not subtraction and division,” highlighting the importance of collective growth and shared progress.
The funeral, attended by mourners from across the country, reflected the wide respect for the Namwamba family and the influential role Mama Agatha played as its matriarch.