National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has defended President William Ruto’s handling of the re-election agreement reached with leaders from Western ahead of the 2022 general election.
He responded to claims by opposition figures that Ruto failed to honour the pact, which he said had promised Western region 30 percent of government appointments and development projects. Wetang’ula said the opposition has been spreading falsehoods in pursuit of political gains.
According to Wetang’ula, the Western region has benefited meaningfully from the Kenya Kwanza government even though it did not fully back Ruto during the election. He said the president still delivered key appointments and development initiatives to the region.
“The Western region did not give the President the numbers we had agreed on, but he still honored the region through key appointments and development projects,” Wetang’ula said.
He added that Western delivered only 20 percent of its votes to Ruto, noting that the support came largely from Bungoma and other counties. He said, “The bulk of the 20 percent of votes came from Bungoma County, which gave the president 69 percent of the total votes cast; Kakamega, 10 percent; Busia, 5 percent; Vihiga, 15 percent; and Trans-Nzoia, 30 percent. So it is not true that we agreed on a pact, we delivered, and it was not honoured,” he said.
Wetang’ula made the remarks during a church service at St. Francis Miyanga Catholic Church in Bumula Constituency, Bungoma County, on Sunday.
Opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Rigathi Gachagua told residents during their Western tour a week ago that the region had received less than it deserved, despite backing the Kenya Kwanza alliance in the 2022 General Election.
Gachagua argued that the pact Kenya Kwanza leaders made with Western figures, under which the region was promised 30 percent representation in government, including Cabinet and Principal Secretary roles, had not been fully implemented. He urged residents to remain vigilant against political promises that repeatedly fail to materialize.
Wetang’ula, however, pointed to appointments from Western as evidence that the region has not been sidelined. He cited his own election as Speaker and Musalia Mudavadi’s role as Prime Cabinet Secretary, along with Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya (Co-operatives) and Deborah Barasa. Wetang’ula also referenced eight principal secretaries from the region.
“As a region, we have received major government positions despite the low numbers we delivered in the election,” Wetang’ula said.
During the same church service, Bumula MP Jack Wamboka faced criticism after he appeared to abandon promises made to Western leaders during the formation of the Kenya Kwanza alliance. Wamboka alleged that the government had directed major development projects and senior appointments toward the Nyanza region, instead of Western.
He said he would continue pressing for what he described as Western Kenya’s fair share of appointments and development projects.
Wetang’ula disagreed, arguing that the Western region has benefited more under President Ruto than under previous administrations and that the Kenya Kwanza government has revived projects that stalled earlier.
He cited the Misikhu–Brigadier Road and the Musikoma–Sang’alo–Kakamega Road as examples, noting that contractors have already resumed work. Wetang’ula added that the government is also constructing roads, markets, affordable housing units, hospitals, schools, and stadiums across the region, presenting the projects as proof of ongoing development.
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