Leaders from Western Kenya on Saturday clashed over a purported plot to remove Moses Wetang’ula from the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
The leaders also clashed on the government’s performance, with some calling for patience and others asking President William Ruto to rethink some policies that have hit headwinds.
While others felt the reports of the purported ouster were wrong and only meant to create division in Western region, some believe that should the move be made, there is a likelihood it would be a successful one.
The leaders were speaking on Saturday at the burial of former Kimilili MP Suleiman Murunga in Bungoma County.
Former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa stirred up the storm, warning Mr Wetang'ula to be cautious as there were plans to remove him.
“My brother Wetang’ula should be careful after Gachagua was ousted as DP. If they can impeach the second-in-command who brought over four million votes, what makes you think you who brought about 200,000 votes cannot suffer the same fate?” asked Mr Wamalwa adding that the National Assembly Speaker should not ignore such rumours “just like Mr Gachagua did”, only to be impeached.
Mr Wamalwa said that in politics, there are no permanent friends and enemies, only interests, and therefore Mr Wetang'ula should join their camp of new friends.
“The political formations keep changing, and many will come in future. Should something happen that you are removed, then I will welcome and support you to a bigger coalition,” said Mr Wamalwa.
He said Mr Wetang'ula will find a home in the larger coalition that brings together the Kikuyus, Kamba, Luhya and many other like-minded communities.
Surprisingly, Mr Wamalwa had warned Mr Gachagua at the funeral of former Nacada boss Victor Okioma in Kitale, Trans Nzoia, urging him to be careful.
But the former deputy president downplayed his warnings, maintaining that they formed this government and he would not move an inch.”
However, Mr Wamalwa’s claims did not go down well with other leaders.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera and his Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa dismissed the reports as rumours with no basis.
“My friend Eugene is here and was once my party leader. In 2013, he told us to go to the Amani coalition which collapsed before we found solace in Jubilee. Let us not mislead our people. Some people have come here with propaganda that there is a plot to remove Wetang’ula, they are propagating this lie to create enmity on our side,” said Mr Lusaka.
“The current political arithmetic in Kenya now dictates that there is no way you can destabilise Central and Western Kenya and win the presidency. That is the politics of reverse gear. You cannot win,” said Mr Lusaka.
He said the Western region was fortunate to have a Senate Speaker in the last Parliament and another in the National Assembly and urged the community to build Mr Wetang'ula and protect what they already had.
Mr Lusaka also lashed out at the leaders for opposing the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) but voting for it in Parliament.
“You cannot say health insurance is bad yet you voted for it in Parliament. We must be honest with the people of Kenya and tell them if there are problems with SHIF and how to solve them,” said Mr Lusaka.
Mr Barasa said that all was well in Kenya Kwanza and that Mr Wetang'ula was there to stay as agreed before the election.
“Reports that Mr Wetang’ula will be removed are lies. All is well in Kenya Kwanza,” said Mr Barasa.
He, however, urged leaders who have been placed in various positions to ensure that they make a difference in the lives of the people as these positions are temporary.
Mr Wetang'ula shrugged off the reports, saying he was going nowhere.
"Do not let anyone sell you fear. Let us concentrate on where we are going and not on the past. Let us not be misled by other people. We are experienced politicians," said Mr Wetang'ula.
“We are tried, tested and proven. We shall walk in this journey together because we also want to clinch power just like the others. If I want to lead this country one day, I would want everybody, including my brothers Eugene and (Wafula) Wamunyinyi to support me. I can’t go outside there and look for friends yet my brothers are not backing me,” said the National Assembly Speaker.
He said that while many other communities were united and were speaking with one voice, the Luhyas were yet to be united.
Other leaders, however, urged the government to listen to the concerns of the people - including the church.
Bumula MP Jack Wamboka asked the leaders to do some introspection to see if they still have the support of the people.
“If elections were held today, would you ignite the same passion you had during campaigns? Will you pull crowds and will you be listened to? That is the biggest question we should ask ourselves as leaders,” said Mr Wamboka adding that many things were not working in the country, especially in the health sector.
"This SHIF is not working, our people are dying because of this failed project. We need to tell each other the truth. Let us go back to the drawing board and rethink the whole project, including the university funding model and the Competency-Based Curriculum," he said.
Mumias East MP Peter Salasya criticised Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga for accusing MPs of conflict of interest by perpetuating the anomaly of designing, implementing and monitoring projects at the same time.
“The main function of CDF was to empower the MPs. Raila cannot talk about oversight yet he is ‘selling’ his MPs to Ruto. We will not go that route of ODM as DAP-K,” said Mr Salasya.
Most leaders hailed the late Murunga as a shrewd businessman. They called for support for Murunga's family in the case he was fighting in court over the popular Simmers Club.
