By Anderson Ojwang
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula carried his legal profession to politics.
In law firms, lawyers usually open and keep files of their clients.
The files are updated with every event and outcome of the proceedings and additional information that may emerge.
Wetangula, upon his promotion to the Speaker of the National Assembly, opened a file for one of his political clients.
The file, safely and neatly stuck in his drawer, bears the name of one Edwin Wetenya Sifuna, the immediate former Orange Democratic Movement secretary general.
Sifuna, a pillar and confidant of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, must have been one of the political eyesores to the Ford Kenya party leader.
Knowledge
Sifuna came to know about the existence of the file after the election of Wetangula as the Speaker after the 2022 general elections.
Wetangula is a member of President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition that defeated Azimio la Umoja.
“I was happy for Weta’s election as the Speaker. So I thought of going to congratulate him as my elder and member from my community,” he said.
Sifuna said he approached Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale to accompany him to go and congratulate Weta.
“I didn’t want to go alone because I was sceptical. Bonny agreed and took me to the Speaker’s office. At the entrance, the look that greeted me said it all,” he said.
Sifuna said after entrance into the office, Wetangula’s mood changed and tried to show the Nairobi senator the power he holds.
“I left Bonny to do the talking and interventions on my behalf,” he said.
Sifuna said Wetangula drew out a file where he had documented date, time and where he alleged the senator had abused and criticised him dating back several years.
“I was shocked when Wetangula began to read incident by incident. Surely I had come to congratulate my brother and not to be engaged on sideshows,” he said.
Sifuna said had he been alone in the office and had Khalwale not been there, the ending could have been distressing.
“Wetangula is a man with a very bad heart. He needs to be an elder and act in an elderly manner,” he said.
Sifuna spoke on Friday at the burial of Khalwale’s wife in Kakamega.
However, Wetangula played down Sifuna’s claim and instead thanked him for walking to his office to congratulate him on his election.
“I want to thank my son Edwin Sifuna. Papa, I have come to congratulate you.”
Earlier, Wetangula had told Sifuna to build a record of leadership before seeking the presidency.
He argued that the country’s highest office requires experience and a proven record of public service.
“You cannot wake up today and say you want to be president without any track record,” he said.
He named former presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, as well as President William Ruto, saying they had accumulated political and public service experience before occupying State House.
Wetangula also said the Luhya community was closer than ever to producing a president and urged its leaders to adopt a strategic approach to the 2027 elections.
“I have the experience and the ability to help deliver this dream. Ruto’s development record speaks for itself,” he said.
The chair
At the funeral, Sifuna had a special seat designated to him with an inscription of his name, strategically placing him as the Luhya community leader.
The chair loudly announced the growing importance of Sifuna in the Luhya community and how the community leaders and members are rallying behind him as the presidential candidate.
At the funeral, Khalwale declared that it was time for DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa to drop his presidential bid and support Sifuna.
“It is true and a reality that Sifuna has overtaken Wamalwa in the presidential contest. Let him accept the reality and support Sifuna’s bid,” he said.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya said it was time the Luhya community rallied behind Sifuna.
“I will be walking in every corner of Luhya land to seek and lock the region for Sifuna. We as a community have a new leader in Sifuna,” he said.
Headache
Sifuna’s presidential ambition is causing a headache to the old guards in Wetangula, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretary Wycliff Oparanya and Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli.
Mudavadi has declared his interest to succeed President William Ruto in 2032, while Oparanya wants to be the running mate of Ruto in 2027 in the UDA-ODM coalition.
Atwoli recently told Sifuna that he had no money to run for the presidential election, and the Luhya community responded by collecting and donating money to Sifuna.
For President Ruto, the emergence of Sifuna is complicating his arithmetic, and he has to go back to the drawing board.
For the old guards, the clock could be ticking, and they may soon find themselves banished to the Kakamega forest.
