Bungoma – It is a new dawn in Western Kenya politics as National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, once considered the undisputed political kingpin of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties, finds himself on unfamiliar ground—pleading with voters for support.
For years, Wetang’ula, the Ford Kenya Party leader, has commanded the political direction of the region with unmatched influence. His word was law, and few dared to challenge his authority. However, the tides appear to be turning as local politics take a new shape ahead of the Chwele–Kabichai Ward by-election.
The race has become a test of Wetang’ula’s political strength, with his preferred candidate, Vincent Maunda, facing stiff competition from independent candidate Eric Wekesa. Wekesa has received strong backing from Kabuchai Member of Parliament Majimbo Kalasinga—ironically, one of Wetang’ula’s own allies in Ford Kenya.
In an emotional appeal during a Sunday church service at Mukhweya village, Wetang’ula urged residents to stand by him and his candidate, warning that losing the seat would deal a serious blow to his political image at the national level.
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“People in Nairobi are watching what happens in Kabuchai. Do not abandon me at this time. Let us unite and protect our home turf,” Wetang’ula pleaded, acknowledging the growing pressure surrounding the by-election.
Political observers say the by-election has exposed growing cracks within Wetang’ula’s once-solid political fortress. For the first time, the Speaker is being openly challenged from within his own base, signaling what some describe as the “beginning of political independence” among local leaders and voters.
Kalasinga’s decision to back an independent candidate has particularly raised eyebrows, with analysts interpreting it as a quiet rebellion against the old order of politics dominated by a few powerful figures.
As campaigns intensify, the Chwele–Kabichai by-election is shaping up to be more than just a contest for a ward seat—it is a referendum on Wetang’ula’s political relevance in Western Kenya.
Whether the veteran politician can rally his people once again or whether the winds of change will sweep through Bungoma remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: for the first time in decades, Moses Wetang’ula is fighting not from a position of power—but from a position of vulnerability.
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