In a Swahili post on his X account, Natembeya said that instead of continuing to depend on the old leaders who have been at the forefront for a long time, it is time to think about and nurture a new generation of leaders with strength, vision and fresh thinking.
He said the change should begin in 2027 and should not wait until 2032, adding that the time to bring new blood into leadership is now.
He did not name anyone in the post, but the remarks are believed to be aimed at Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, who have dominated Luhya politics for decades.
The two leaders have been under growing pressure in the region from younger politicians, and Natembeya's message adds to that challenge.
The governor has already declared his support for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who has been building the Linda Mwananchi Movement and is seen as one of the faces of the younger wave in Western Kenya.
His reference to 2032 also echoes the debate sparked earlier by Mudavadi's critics, who have said the Prime CS is waiting to inherit the presidency in that year, and by Wetang'ula's remarks that Sifuna should wait until 2032 for his own ambitions.
Natembeya's call comes as the Tifa Research survey released this week put Sifuna at 31 per cent as the preferred winner of the 2027 presidential election, level with President William Ruto. The figures have encouraged his allies, who argue that the region should place its bet on a new generation.
Mudavadi and Wetang'ula, on the other hand, are working to defend their influence ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Mudavadi recently telling residents to stop expecting government benefits without supporting the leadership that advocates for them.
Both remain allied to President Ruto and are expected to deliver Western Kenya votes for his re-election bid.
How the Luhya community responds to the call for generational change will be one of the most closely watched contests of the next election cycle, given the number of votes the region carries.
Link; https://x.com/GeorgeNatembeya/status/2120825575015088584?a=Cy8gY7-eNgjZrfFptEc&s=19
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