Tough times as world starts crumbling into Wetang’ula’s face as he demands Kindiki’s job

Less than two months ago, former Trade Minister Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi claimed on a morning television show that National Assembly Speaker Moses Masika Wetang’ula had demeaned the standard of the office he holds and lowered the integrity of the Legislature to unprecedented levels.

Dr Kituyi, a former three-term MP for Kimilili in Wetang’ula’s native Bungoma County, accused him of “shameless partiality and acting like a UDA (United Democratic Alliance) youth-winger” at public rallies where he campaigns for President William Ruto’s re-election.

The former minister, who later served as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), branded Wetang’ula the worst Speaker in independent Kenya’s history, blaming him for allegedly neglecting his responsibilities by kowtowing to the whims of the Executive.

Dr Kituyi’s accusations proved to be only the first of many barbs directed at the Speaker since then.

With just one year to the next General Election, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula finds himself in a very strange political corner. The 69-year-old Senior Counsel is the subject of intense public debate at both national and county levels.

His refusal to relinquish leadership of the Ford Kenya party, his persistent partisan campaigning for President Ruto’s re-election, UDA’s insistence on not again “zoning” electoral areas for certain political parties, the exodus of key figures from his own party, repeated demands by his allies that he replace incumbent Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki as Ruto’s 2027 running mate, and a string of court cases have all raised eyebrows — even as the former Bungoma senator continues about his affairs unfazed.

But all is not well for the self-proclaimed “Papa wa Roma.” Wetang’ula is wading through very stormy waters. His political turf of Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia is in turmoil.

During the 2022 General Election, the populous Bungoma County delivered 255906 votes to Ruto’s candidacy under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance. Led by Wetang’ula, also Ford Kenya’s party leader, politicians from the county have repeatedly claimed that these votes were decisive in Ruto’s win, given that his margin of victory over the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (standing on the Azimio ticket) was a mere 110626 votes.

However, four years into government, the two counties that make up Wetang’ula’s political backyard have become the bedrock of the fiercest opposition to the Kenya Kwanza administration in Western Kenya.

Many of the most prominent critics come from Wetang’ula’s own Bukusu community, which inhabits Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia.

Among them: Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi (Wetang’ula’s younger brother), Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, and former MPs Wafula Wamunyinyi and Bifwoli Wakoli — all outspoken opponents of the Ruto regime.

In neighbouring Trans-Nzoia County, Governor George Natembeya and former Defence Minister Eugene Wamalwa, both officials of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), are equally vocal critics of the administration.

Notably, Kalasinga — a former aide to Wetang’ula and the Speaker’s own local MP — was elected on a Ford Kenya ticket but has since distanced himself from the party’s leadership.

Wetang’ula’s own MCA for Cherangany/Kabuchai Ward, Eric Wekesa, was elected as an independent in a hotly contested by-election on November 27 last year, defeating the Ford Kenya candidate, Geoffrey Maundu.

Tim Wanyonyi, elected on an ODM ticket for three terms as Nairobi’s Westlands MP, has since switched to Bungoma to contest the governorship — declaring he could run under any party except Ford Kenya.

Last weekend, he joined the “Linda Mwananchi” coalition led by Sifuna. Wangamati, elected Bungoma governor in 2017 on a Ford Kenya ticket, also defected to Linda Mwananchi earlier this week, hoping to reclaim the seat next year.

Many now question whether the rebellion in these counties stems from dissatisfaction with the Speaker or the President, given that Ford Kenya remains part of the ruling alliance.

Wetang’ula stands out as the most controversial Speaker of the National Assembly in Kenya’s post-independence history — no predecessor has faced as much criticism during his four years leading the Legislature.

Even as his influence wanes at home, Wetang’ula has surprisingly staked a claim — through close allies in the ‘Mulembe Nation’ — to the Deputy President’s seat, voiced at rallies organized under the Empowerment Forum banner.

His bid for the position currently held by Kindiki has caused consternation within the ruling coalition, with allies of the incumbent questioning why he has allowed opposition to flourish in his own backyard.

Wetang’ula remains under scrutiny for refusing to dissolve Ford Kenya, unlike Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who merged his Amani National Congress (ANC) with UDA two years ago — a move that reportedly created friction between Wetang’ula and some of Ruto’s close associates.

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old Ford Kenya party is teetering on collapse. Founded by some of Kenya’s finest political minds, it is now clinging to survival with just twelve and a half months until the next election. Insiders believe it may not survive the polls.

The party is engulfed in bitter internal feuds over Wetang’ula’s leadership. It has reportedly failed to field a gubernatorial candidate for Bungoma — despite the Speaker’s own brother running for the seat under another party — and lacks parliamentary candidates in Bumula, Kimilili, Kabuchai, Mt. Elgon, and Webuye West (Bungoma), as well as Saboti, Endebess, and Kiminini (Trans-Nzoia).

In November last year, Ford Kenya suffered a humiliating defeat in a Kabuchai ward by-election — Wetang’ula’s own turf — losing to an independent candidate backed by Kalasinga.

This year has seen a mass exodus from Ford Kenya, with most defectors joining UDA. The first to leave was former Secretary-General Dr. Chris Wamalwa, who announced his move to UDA — and his bid for the Trans-Nzoia governorship against incumbent Natembeya — during a meeting between Ruto and UDA aspirants at State House on March 4.

Wamalwa cited the need to “align with a progressive political movement that prioritizes inclusivity and development,” criticizing Ford Kenya’s leadership for failing to inspire confidence and for discouraging consultation and teamwork.

“Unfortunately, that space no longer exists,” he said.

Other departures include Deputy Secretary-General Elizabeth Iminza, Youth League President Chekai Musa, Deputy National Secretary for Trade Almas Hadad, Deputy National Organising Secretary David Burare, First Deputy National Treasurer Joyce Cheruto, National Vice Chair and former Trans-Nzoia Senator Henry Ole Ndiema, Secretary for Technology and Research Ismael Arale, Water, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jane Nampaso, Trans-Nzoia Branch Secretary Joseph Pepela, and Secretary for Sports, Gender and Culture Luke Opwora.

This exodus leaves Wetang’ula severely exposed. His continued leadership of Ford Kenya remains a matter of significant public interest, compounded by ongoing court cases seeking to bar him from public political campaigning, questions over his party stewardship, and the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Ford Kenya was established in August 1992 as one of two offshoots of the original FORD party, founded a year earlier by six prominent nationalists. Wetang’ula took over its leadership from former Local Government Minister Musikari Kombo in 2012. His stewardship of the party grows more precarious by the day.