Was Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe planted in William Ruto camp in Western politics to spy on powerful state operatives? That is the question in the minds of many. The question arose after Wangwe was proposed to replace Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali as leader of majority in parliament. Washiali together with former Sports cabinet secretary Mohammed Echesa landed the plum slots courtesy of Ruto. Initially, Washiali was opposed to Echesa being named CS due to supremacy battle on who controls and had a sway among the Wanga community. When Echesa who had overpowered Washiali in the corridors of power was sacked from the cabinet, the MP is said to have celebrated. But now with Washiali’s future as majority leader being targeted in what is said to be Uhuru Kenyatta’s side to control parliament, he is a worried man.
Benjamin Washiali
But of great concern is the fact, that Wangwe elected on Jubilee ticket and seen as one of the DP henchmen is earmarked to replace Washiali. Political analysis say that during the naming of the cabinet early 2018, MPs elected on Jubilee ticket from Western Kenya were bitter that the Wanga community was favoured as Echesa was given the CS slot, Washiali leader of majority, an equivalent to CS, and Ferdinand Barasa, managing director Ketraco. Barasa, a Wanga is now eyeing to be the next Kakamega governor. In the Wycliffe Oparanya succession race, Barasa is to face Lugari MP Ayub Savula, deputy governor Philip Kutima and Senator Cleophas Malala and former area senator Bonnie Khalwale. Apart from the Wanga factor, Jubilee MPs raised issues in the manner in which Ruto was treating Khalwale compared to them. An MP we talked to revealed that at one time immediately Khalwale defected to Jubilee, things took a different turn.
Mohammed Echesa
It is on these grounds that Wangwe and Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali decided to keep off. Ruto is also said to have sidelined Shinali and Wangwe, close friends, in favour of Khalwale and Malava MP Malulu Injendi also in parliament on Jubilee ticket. The DP camp made sure Ruto officiated at many development projects in Malava compared to Ikolomani and Navakholo. In fact the DP was in Ikolomani to attend the burial of Khalwale wife after donating Sh2.5 million to the family to help in funeral arrangement. For now in Kakamega, DP camp has only Injendi and Washiali. Lurambi MP Bishop Titus Khamala elected on ANC ticket and who after moving to DP’s side has of late been avoiding Jubilee politics. Khamala wanted to defect to Jubilee ahead of 2022 elections. Likuyani MP, Enock Kibunguchy, whose constituency neighbours Ruto Turbo and on Ford-Kenya ticket is backing the DP. Another MP whose stand is not known is Matungu’s Justus Murunga of ANC.
Emmanuel Wangwe
An aide to Ruto claimed that Murunga is a political conman who used to receive weekend stipends from Ruto aid Mohammed Farouk only to end up enjoying life in Nairobi Utawala area. Butere MP Nicholas Tindi and Khwisero’s Christopher Aseka had at one time shown interest in working with Ruto just likes with Shinyalu’s Justus Mugali. In Bungoma, the war between Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa and his Sirisia counterpart John Waluke Koyi is costing Ruto’s DP. Barasa after being humiliated in Kibra by-election has endeared himself to Ruto side ousting Waluke. Many will agree that of late, Barasa comes out to defend Ruto openly compared to Waluke. Daniel Wanyama, the Webuye West MP also on Jubilee bandwagon like Barasa and Waluke is more concerned with development when engaging Ruto than politics. Ruto has won on his side Moses Mabonga, the independent MP for Bumula who once worked under former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka.
Didmus Barasa
Alfred Sambu of Webuye East on ANC ticket had shifted to Ruto side. Sambu is set to retire from politics 2022. If the talk of Moses Wetang’ula, Ford-K leader, striking power deal with Ruto comes to fruition, it will then decide the political destiny of James Mukhwe (Kabuchai), Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi) and David Eseli (Tongaren) all elected on Ford-K ticket. Wetangula has emerged himself as Bungoma politics kingpin In Vihiga, Hamisi MP Charles Gimose is Ruto’s pointman with a number of MCAs. However, the Ruto side in Vihiga is praying for ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi alliance with DP faction in Jubilee, something insiders in ANC say is a pipe dream. Gimose was elected on Ford-K ticket. The person out to frustrate Ruto in Western politics more so, Kakamega county, is Cotu boss Francis Atwoli who has no love lost between him and the DP.
