Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa has told National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to his face that those letting him down are the people around him.

Speaking during a funeral in Kabuchai, which was attended by the National Assembly Speaker on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, Barasa said that the individuals Wetang’ula employed after assuming the Speaker’s position, as well as those close to him, are the ones letting him down.

With Wetangula’s influence in Bungoma currently being at stake, he cited remarks previously made by Trade and Industry Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana, who questioned why Bungoma residents tend to abandon their leaders at the peak of their political careers.

 Mukhwana had referenced former minister and trade unionist Mukhisa Kituyi, who was defeated while defending his Kimilili parliamentary seat in 2007, at a time when he was at the height of his political career.

In an indirectly calculated attack on Wetangula, according to Barasa, Bungoma residents elect leaders based on the hope they sell to them, but once in office, failure to deliver on promises and improve people’s lives often becomes a leader’s political downfall.

Barasa further told the Speaker that for the 33 years he has been in politics, Bungoma residents have nurtured him to his current position, where he is regarded as the third in command in the country. He warned that the same fate could befall Wetang’ula if he does not take caution.

“Mheshimiwa speaker, you have been around for 33 years. These people of Bungoma have nurtured you to the point you are today. I would like to tell you this: vile ulikuwa Speaker of the National Assembly, ukakuwa number 3 in Kenya, and the people you appointed to government and those who sit around you are the people letting you down,” he said.

“Wananchi hawawa Bungoma ni wazuri sana; hao ukiwauzia matumaini kabla ufike kwa kiti, wanakusikiliza, lakini ukifika kwa nafsi kubwa ya uongozi, you must use your position to change their life.

“If you aspire to a higher position and you don’t use that position to change their life, they will take you home and will have no apologies to make.”

He urged the Speaker to convene all individuals he appointed to government positions by virtue of his role as Speaker and Kenya Kwanza principal and to demand accountability from them before the end of the year.

Barasa said those who fail to account for their performance should be dismissed, arguing that some of these appointees are responsible for undermining the Speaker’s influence, as reflected in his defeat in the Chwele Kabuchai Ward by-elections.

Senator Wakoli’s laxity

Barasa also took issue with Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli, who was recently appointed to replace Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale as Majority Whip. He accused Wakoli of contributing to the Speaker’s challenges by failing to exercise proper oversight over the county government.

According to Barasa, Wetang’ula previously provided strong oversight before assuming the role of Speaker, a responsibility he said has been lacking during Wakoli’s tenure, leading to disarray in the county.

Wetang’ula’s vulnerability

This is not the first time Barasa has issued subtle attacks against the National Assembly Speaker.

Following the Chwele Kabuchai Ward by-elections, in which Wetang’ula was defeated in his home ward, exposing his soft underbelly, a time when people expected that the support he has forever enjoyed from the county would always go his way, but it became his Waterloo.

After the by-elections, Barasa, who had fully supported the candidate backed by Wetang’ula, said the people of Chwele had taught him a lesson, noting that residents could no longer rely on long-serving leaders for political direction but would instead make choices based on their own preferences.

He also blamed the loss on individuals close to the Speaker, claiming that the eventual winner, Erick Wekesa, was initially taken to Ford Kenya to receive the party ticket but was sidelined, forcing him to contest independently without FORD-K support, a move that ultimately led to his victory.