Wetang’ula: Here is my game-plan


Emboldened by his landslide victory in the recent Bungoma by-election, Senator Moses Wetang’ula has scented an opportunity to an even bigger space in national politics and hopes that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka will support his ultimate dream of becoming president.

Senator Moses Wetang’ula (left) with CORD co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga

After overcoming what initially looked like ‘mission impossible’ by recapturing the Bungoma senatorial seat, Wetang’ula now plans to go for the top seat in the next election. Having won the tag of a fighter, sentiments in his backyard are gradually tilting in his favour that was headlined two weeks ago by Deputy President William Ruto’s visit to Bungoma that is seen as a covert overture to win him over from CORD.

In an exclusive interview with The Standard on Saturday, Wetangula says he wants to end the ‘best-maid’ tag that has helped other regions enjoy power while Western, regarded the largest electoral constituency demographically, wallows in poverty because of politics of exclusion.

He says his interest in the leadership of the country has been given impetus by the massive support through “tragedy (of a by-election) that turned out to be my strategy” of mobilising support despite Jubilee coalition’s determination to deny him the seat. His profile has been soaring. However, critics and allies alike converge in opinion that, although the senator has the character and capacity to follow in the footsteps of Masinde Muliro and Michael Wamalwa, who in life distinguished themselves as undisputed supremos of the region, he must cultivate a winning strategy.

Presidential bid

Having seen off a spirited attempt to snatch the Bungoma senatorial seat by Jubilee, Wetang’ula, who once dined and wined with his current tormentors, has already asked Raila to support his presidential bid in 2017 in appreciation of the massive following he has had since he began the quest to lead the country.

“The CORD co-principals have agreed that we will go into the next election together. However, the three of us will have to go through the primaries and whoever emerges tops will be our flag-bearer. We are aware this will not be easy, but we are prepared to make sacrifices for the sake of the 40 communities that have been marginalsied by the Jubilee government,” he says.

Jubilee is currently fighting off accusations of sidelining a majority of Kenyans through public office appointments in which more than half of the cabinet, principal secretaries, parastatal heads, military, police, diplomatic postings and heads of key State departments are either from the Kikuyu or Kalenjin communities. His push for bigger stake in CORD comes at a time Raila is fending off rebellion in ODM and it remains speculative whether he will get the backing of his CORD co-principals.

A week ago, Wetang’ula kicked off a storm when a section of his supporters declared him a Luhyia spokesman at a thanksgiving party for his supporters at his Sirisia home attended by Raila and Kalonzo. Reaction to the alleged coronation came in fast and furious with fellow senators chiding him for ‘unbridled’ ambitions. Wetang’ula denies he was ever installed a Luhyia spokesman.


“I cannot do such a thing alone. I would have invited my colleagues from the other counties. The homecoming was for the Bungoma people who stood by me as Jubilee pushed to unseat me,” he says.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and Vihiga Senator George Khaniri, who stuck with him during the by-election despite threats from their party, UDF, threatening to kick them out, were critical of their colleague, whom they accused of selfishness.

“Leaders emerge, they are not imposed. It is a process that takes time before one gains the confidence and acceptability of the people he aspires to lead. Uhuru, Ruto, Raila or Kalonzo emerged to lead their people after demonstrating to their people that they are the embodiment of their interest. I want to cultivate a relationship with my people and if a time comes when they can trust me to lead them, I will take up the challenge,” says Wetang’ula.

Assassination attempt

After years of being in the shadows of Amani leader and former Deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi and Federal Party of Kenya leader Cyrus Jirongo, the Bungoma senator says his rising star has exposed him to a possible assassination attempt. The two have in past tried unsuccessfully to gain traction with the electorate of the region, but trust is often vested with Raila. Three weeks after his electoral triumph, Wetangula caused a stir when he alleged an attempt on his life. However, the police dismissed the allegation as a publicity stunt after a night of merry-making.

“We heard two gunshots and upon which my security guard ordered the driver to speed off. Prior to that during the by-election campaigns, my opponent was buffeted with State security while my pleas for security went unheeded. More importantly the police have a history of questionable investigations. For instance when JM Kariuki’s body was being eaten by hyenas in Ngong Hills, the police said he had travelled to Malawi. When my predecessor Robert Ouko went missing, the police said be had travelled to Gambia while his body was rotting at Got Alila. How can you trust them,” he explains. Khaniri says while he is not opposed to anybody being annointed leader of the region, the process must inclusive and consultative.

“What my brother Wetang’ula did was to invite strangers and use them to declare himself the kingpin of the region. Leaders evolve, they are not imposed. I believe that any decision that is taken, we must be consulted to endorse it. Why must we need an imposed kingpin? The Kikuyu, the Kalenjin and the Luo did not meet to install their leaders. They (leaders) emerged from a long process of demonstration grit and service to the people. They symbolise the aspirations of their people,” he says.

The intention to challenge Raila and Kalonzo is expected to be a tough call for the Senator, now tasting opposition politics for the first since he plunged into politics two decades ago.

By JUMA KWAYERA, The Standard

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