Speaker Wetang’ula warns Natembeya over attacks
By Alvin.Mwangi, April 8, 2024National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has dismissed TransNzoia Governor George Natembeya, for his continued attacks, maintaining that the divisions he is creating would cause more harm for the Luhya community come 2027.
Wetang’ula spoke yesterday while leading a funds drive at Bulimbo Catholic Church, Kakamega. He said Natembeya’s sustained attacks on him and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi were reducing confidence accorded the community in the country.
“As a region we want to be somewhere come 2027 but it will be impossible to even convince other communities to support us if we continue fighting among each other. We want a community to speak in one voice,” he said.
Despite the widening rift between him and Natembeya stemming from the burial incident, the Ford-Kenya leader emphasised that politicians who engage in physical altercations will face judgment from the electorate.
He urged political leaders to redirect their efforts towards serving Kenyans.
According to Wetang’ula, political leaders are elected to serve, and they occupy those positions not by chance but by the will of voters. “As leaders, we are given the privilege to serve the citizens. This authority does not belong to us but to them—the electorate. No one has an inherent right to lead in this country; it is bestowed upon you by the people,” he explained.
Wetang’ula urged leaders to conduct themselves with decorum and respect if entrusted with positions of power.
“If allowed to lead, do so with decorum, respect, and dignity,” he emphasised.
Use position
Natembeya has been waging an onslaught against Wetang’ula and Mudavadi, saying they have not used their positions to benefit the Luyha community as they had pledged. Weighing in on the matter, Kakamega Governor Fernades Barasa urged Wetang’ula not to shy away from traversing Western to reach out to leaders and locals in the unity drive. “As the chairman of Western MPs, I will make sure all legislators rally behind you and follow you everywhere you go so that when Dr Ruto exits power in 2032, you take over from him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Natembeya has upped his attacks on Wetang’ula and Mudavadi who are considered senior politicians in Western Kenya.
Meanwhile, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka of has called upon the political leadership in the Western region to establish a formidable caucus aimed at fostering socio-economic advancement.