Cabinet shuffle rekindles supremacy battle in Western
The Cabinet reshuffle that has seen Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa appointed Minister for Justice and Sirisia MP Moses Wetang’ula moved from the high-profile Foreign Affairs docket to the Trade ministry has divided opinion in their strongholds.
Supporters of the Saboti MP in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties welcomed his appointment to the powerful Justice ministry while those of Mr Wetang’ula are disappointed and read succession politics in the developments.
The two counties are viewed by many as likely to provide a swing vote in the next presidential election.
Both Mr Wetang’ula and Mr Wamalwa have declared interest in the presidency, with Mr Wamalwa gravitating towards the G7 Alliance while Mr Wetang’ula has of late been leaning towards ODM.
Other leaders who nurse presidential ambitions from the region include Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo.
The appointment of Mr Wamalwa, according to Maseno University lecturer Dr Martin Mulwale, is a strategy by the G7 leaders to increase their presence on the ground in Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties where Mr Wamalwa is perceived to have support.
But Bungoma Law Society of Kenya chairman John Makali thinks otherwise.
“They (G7 leaders) wanted to tame Mr Mutula Kilonzo (former Justice minister) because of his stand on ICC and replace him with someone who can lobby for the deferral of their cases. They picked on Mr Wamalwa because of his lack of experience,” he said.
Mr Makali says the move to transfer Mr Wetang’ula to a low-profile ministry is aimed at clipping his wings and reducing his influence in the two counties.
The reshuffle has rekindled the rivalry between the two leaders who have been battling for supremacy in western Kenya. (READ: Wamalwa: I will be faithful to the law)
Rivalry between Mr Wamalwa and the Sirisia MP for Ford-Kenya leadership saw the former decamp to New Ford-Kenya headed by Housing minister Soita Shitanda.
Labour minister John Munyes, Forestry minister Noah Wekesa, Kimilili MP Eseli Simiyu and Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli remained with Mr Wetang’ula in Ford-Kenya.
Mr Shitanda and Ikolomani MP Bonni Khalwale, who were supporters of Mr Wamalwa, are seen to be gravitating towards Mr Mudavadi.
Dr Khalwale wants Mr Wamalwa to support Mr Mudavadi’s presidential bid. Nominated MP Musikari Kombo and former Webuye MP Joash Wamang’oli support Mr Wamalwa in Bungoma county while former Trade minister Mukhisa Kituyi, who was sympathetic to the Wamalwa camp, shifted to the Wetang’ula group.
Former LSK Bungoma chapter chairman Amos Makokha says the reshuffle may not change the politics of the area which, he adds, is solidly in ODM and Ford-Kenya parties.
“He (Mr Wamalwa) will have a hard time working because he has to please those who have influenced his appointment. He may have to go against popular public opinion especially on the ICC cases,” said Mr Makokha.
Kimilili ODM chairman and parliamentary aspirant John Chikati says people of Bungoma feel that Mr Wetang’ula’s support for President Kibaki, including negotiating for power sharing, has not been appreciated.
“Bungoma residents feel that PNU, to which the G7 belongs, cannot be trusted. They shortchanged Gichugu MP Martha Karua and now they are doing the same to Mr Wetang’ula,” Mr Chikati said.
He added that Mr Wamalwa will have to make his stand known, especially on the ICC and elections date.
Bungoma County council vice-chairman John Nanyakha said Mr Wetang’ula should decamp from PNU.
“This is unacceptable. Wetang’ula should now pull his Ford-Kenya party out of PNU,” said Nanyakha.
Kimilili municipal councillor Sitati Nangalama said: “As a party, we feel shortchanged because of the contribution we made to the PNU government. We deserve more recognition,” he said.
Supporters of Mr Wamalwa say the minister has been rewarded for his loyalty to PNU and given an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership skills.
