National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has urged the Luhya community to support President Ruto’s 2027 re-election, saying it could position the region for the 2032 presidency.
By: Ogonyo Centrine
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called on the Luhya community to throw their weight behind President William Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid, arguing that doing so would strategically position the region to produce a presidential candidate in 2032.
Speaking on Friday at Busibwabo Secondary School in Busia County during the second anniversary of the Western Women Congress, Wetang’ula emphasised the importance of unity and numbers in national politics. He noted that the Luhya community, with its considerable population and potential for collective political influence, stands a real chance of shaping the country’s future leadership.
“The Luhya community stands a better chance of succeeding President Dr William Ruto in 2032,” said Wetang’ula. “That is why I am urging our people to fully support President Ruto’s second term in 2027. It is a calculated step towards ensuring our region becomes central in the country’s leadership transition.”
The Speaker highlighted recent appointments of Western Kenya leaders to influential government positions as a clear sign of the President’s goodwill toward the region. Among these appointments, he cited Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi as an example of how Ruto has been inclusive in distributing key roles. Wetang’ula also acknowledged Ruto’s support for his election as Speaker of the National Assembly as further evidence of the President’s outreach to Western Kenya.
He argued that continuing to back Ruto’s government would give the Luhya community more leverage in future political negotiations, especially in the race to State House.
“Let us not be divided. Unity is strength, and with unity, the Luhya nation can be part of the team that charts Kenya’s political future,” he added.
Wetang’ula also applauded the recent cooperation between the ruling coalition and the opposition, specifically lauding the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for embracing a more collaborative approach with the government. According to him, this move has helped ease political tensions and stabilise the country.
He praised ODM leader Raila Odinga for taking a step back from active presidential politics and focusing instead on unity and national cohesion. Wetang’ula urged other political leaders to adopt a similar approach and prioritise development over divisive politics.
“The President deserves to be given space and time to implement his agenda. The criticism he has faced is often unfair. For the time he has been in office, he has done quite well and shown great commitment to his promises,” Wetang’ula remarked.
Touching on food security, he lauded the government’s efforts in agriculture, particularly pointing to the steady growth in maize production. He attributed the increase—from 48 million bags three years ago to 65 million last year, with a projected 85 million bags this season—to the input subsidy programmes initiated by the Ruto administration.
On the subject of empowering women, Wetang’ula challenged the Western Women Congress to move beyond ceremonial events and work on an economic strategy that directly benefits its members. He encouraged the group to use their growing influence to develop a comprehensive economic plan and pledged his full support for such an initiative.
“The next time we meet, let’s not just celebrate. Let us come together to unveil an economic blueprint that can uplift our women and our region,” he said.
The event brought together numerous women leaders from across Western Kenya and beyond, including Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi and Kakamega County MP Elsie Muhanda. They echoed Wetang’ula’s sentiments, urging women in the region to unite and support Ruto’s bid for a second term.
“We cannot afford to lag behind while women in other regions have already made up their minds politically,” said Hon. Muhanda.
The celebration was hosted by Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo and Western Women Congress President Connie Lusweti. It marked two years of the Congress’s existence, with a renewed call for women’s empowerment and political unity in Western Kenya.
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