Why Wetangula will now call the shots in Western

By Stephen Makabila

The outcome of Monday election will reshape Western politics, propelling Trade Minister Moses Wetangula as the region’s political supremo.

Prior to the elections, the region had five political heavyweights, nursing presidential ambitions, but none has made it.

They included Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi who contested on Amani coalition and came a distant third, Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa who sacrificed his ambition and never contested any seat, Assistant minister Wakoli Bifwoli who lost his Bumula seat and former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo who failed to capture the Kakamega Senate seat.

The fifth was Wetangula, Ford-Kenya party leader and co-principal in the CORD coalition, who fought against all odds to win the Bungoma County Senate seat.

His win makes him the only one of the five to hold an elective political position. And among elected senators from the region, (George Khaniri (Vihiga), Bonny Khalwale (Kakamega) and Amos Wako (Busia), Wetangula remains the only party leader, with real chances of reviving his presidential ambition in future.

CORD presidential candidate Raila Odinga won the presidential vote in all the constituencies in Western, and the credit goes to Wetangula as a co-principal and having crisscrossed the region campaigning for CORD. Mudavadi performed dismally in the region despite his vigorous campaigns to consolidate the region’s bloc vote, and to some, the failure to command the region has his political future in jeopardy.

“Wetangula, being an experienced politician, is going to build on his performance, and chances are he could be more aggressive. He does not look like a politician who can waste a chance beckoning,” said Moi University lecturer Masibo Lumala.

Political analyst Martin Oloo argues Western was up for grabs and Wetangula was emerging as a key player on the national platform.

“The election results have challenged Mudavadi’s and Wamalwa’s Kingpinship in Western, as Wetangula’s political fortunes change for the better going by the performance of CORD and his own Ford-Kenya party,” added Oloo, who lecturers at the Kenya School of Law. Amani coalition leaders had painted Wetangula as a ‘traitor’ against the Luhya unity at the height of the campaigns, while he insisted they (Amani) had no chance and were playing spoiler for Raila’s CORD. In his Senatorial fight, Wetangula turned tables against Amani’s Musikari Kombo (New Ford-Kenya) and Mukhisa Kituyi (UDF) to win, even after Mudavadi and Wamalwa led their brigade to campaign against him.

More importantly, Wetangula’s Ford-Kenya party won four parliamentary seats in Bungoma County, flooring Wamalwa, whose New Ford-Kenya party only managed two parliamentary seats and the Governor position that went to former PS Ken Lusaka. Mr Oloo, however, points out that Lusaka won the governorship on his personal political strength and not Wamalwa’s influence. Ford-Kenya candidates won in Tongaren (Dr Eseli Simiyu), Kimilili (Suleiman Murunga), Kanduyi (Wafula Wamunyinyi) and Kabuchai (James Lusweti Mugwe).

New Ford-Kenya only managed Bumula (Bonface Otsyula) and Webuye West (Dan Wanyama) while Webuye East went to Alfred Sambu of UDF and Mt Elgon to John Serut, an independent candidate.

In Wamalwa’s Trans-Nzoia county, Wetangula also outdid him, after his Ford-Kenya party won the Kiminini and Kwanza parliamentary seats, on top of the governor and senate seats.

Ford-Kenya’s Chris Wamalwa won the Kiminini parliamentary seat, Ferdinand Wanyonyi the Kwanza seat, Henry Ndiema the Senate seat while former PS Patrick Khaemba won the governor seat.