MPs from Western Kenya on
Wednesday confronted President
William Ruto over the never-ending
speculations of a plot to kick out
Moses Wetang’ula as National Assembly Speaker.
The lawmakers, the Star has established, demanded assurance that
Wetang’ula’s position is safe and
not negotiable, despite Ruto’s recent political deal with former premier Raila Odinga.
The jitters could signal disquiet
among some Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties following the deal that
has thrust Raila to the heart of power.
Raila has been handed key ministerial portfolios and over 10 PSs
positions, making ODM the most
consequential partner to UDA.
A number of MPs confirmed to
the Star that the Wetang’ula issue erupted at a morning meeting at State
House, where President Ruto hosted him that despite being an elder, he
(Ruto) was the President and was in
charge.”
During the unveiling of the UDAODM deal, Wetang’ula and Mudavadi were conspicuously missing. Both have, however, publicly expressed support for the deal.
“The UDA-ODM pact is a step
in the right direction for Kenya. A
united Kenya is a stronger Kenya.
The agreement between President
Ruto and Raila Odinga is not about
political rivalry; it’s about dialogue
over division,” Wetang’ula said.
Apart from the MPs, Wetang’ula
and other top government officials,
led by Prime Cabinet Secretary
Musalia Mudavadi, were present
during the Wednesday meeting.
The meeting was also attended by
Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives) and Deborah
Barasa (Environment) as well as all
governors from Western region.
These include Fernandes Barasa
(Kakamega), Paul Otuoma (Busia),
Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga) and Ken Lusaka (Bungoma).
There have also been jitters in
Wetang’ula’s camp over the position of the Health Cabinet Secretary,
which was part of the ringfenced
positions for Ford Kenya party.
The
President handed it to Aden Duale
on Wednesday. Two women from
Western have been dropped from
heading the ministry.
Another source told the Star that
they were shocked to later learn of
the removal of Health Cabinet Secretary Barasa as they were not informed about the impending changes.
Hours after the State House meeting, Ruto swapped Barasa (Health)
with Duale (Environment) in changes communicated by Head of Public
Service Felix Koskei.
“It came as a shock, given that the
President was heaping praise on the
Health CS, telling us how she had
been an asset in his Kenya Kwanza
administration,” a senator told the
Star.
Early this month, MPs from Wetang’ula’s Bungoma backyard
accused top government officials
within the Kenya Kwanza administration, including a sitting Cabinet Secretary, of undermining then Health
CS Barasa.
MPs John Waluke (Sirisia), John
Chikati (Tongaren), Wanami Wamboka (Bumula), Martin Wanyonyi
(Webuye East) and Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai) vowed to name and
shame the PSs and the CS involved
in the alleged smear campaign.
The claims were triggered by in telligence that a reshuf e was looming.
The State House meeting comes
months after Ruto’s extensive development tour of the Western region,
during which he launched and commissioned several projects, including the disbursement of Sh150 million in dividends to Mumias Sugar
farmers.
During the meeting that lasted
more than two hours, the President
also underscored the need for Western MPs ‘to behave like they are in
government’.
Some lawmakers from the region
have, however, dismissed the frequent State House meetings as immaterial, claiming nothing tangible
has come out from them.
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, who
claimed he was not invited, termed
the State House meeting unnecessary since they have never translated to any project in Western Kenya.
“I have lost count on the number of times the President has had
meetings with Luhya MPs, but what
I am yet to count is any single project initiated in Western courtesy of
these meetings,” Amisi posted on his
X account.
“Western is still lagging behind
in development, despite enormous
support from our brothers in government.”
According to the Kenya Kwanza
pre-election deal, both Wetang’ula’s
Ford Kenya and Musalia’s ANC
were to get 30 per cent of government.
This translated to about six or
seven Cabinet Secretary slots.
So far, the community has two
CSs positions. The 30 per cent
would also apply to other government positions like Principal Secretaries, ambassadors and parastatal
chiefs.
The positions were to be shared
equally amongst the two political
parties.
But ANC has since been dissolved and its leaders joined UDA.
The agreement, which was made
public during the impeachment of
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, also gave the two Western
parties Speaker of the National
Assembly as well as Prime Cabinet
Secretary slots.
“ANC and Ford-Kenya shall
have 30 per cent share of the positions in the national government,
including Cabinet Secretaries,
Principal Secretaries, ambassadors/high commissioners/heads of
diplomatic missions, chairpersons
of state corporations, directors of
state corporations and chairpersons and commissioners of constitution commissions, provided that
the aforesaid 30 per cent share positions in the national government
shall be shared equally between
ANC and Ford Kenya,” says Article 21, clause (n), of the agreement
deposited with the Registrar of
Political Parties.
In addition, the community was
to get 1,000km of tarmac roads
across the six counties of Luhya
nation.
