Western Kenya communities have been advised to get ready to succeed President William Ruto regime in 2032 if they support him for the second term in the 2027 General Election.

But the utterance has been angrily rebuffed as “an insult” to Kenya’s populous community by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate in Malava by-election Edgar Busiega Mwanga, who says power barons in the country have historically reduced the community to sheer marionettes in politics.

“We are not just voting machines. We’re key stakeholders as a community,” Busiega said in response to UDA statements.

Kibet made the controversial utterances in Malava during a fundraiser for a People Living with Disability (PLWD) School. In a separate response, DCP Deputy Leader Clophas Malala concurred with Mr Busiega – a lawyer of high standing – kicked up a storm when he questioned President William Ruto’s right-hand man’s academic credentials and his micro-management of Kakamega County government financial affairs.

Malala referred to Kibet as an academic and political “midget” who should not be lecturing to voters in Malava on who to elect.

Kibet and Kesses MP Oscar Sudi have in the past been accused of blackmailing Kakamega County Governor Fernandez Barasa into donating Ksh50 million every month to President Ruto 2027 re-election war-chest. While the allegation have not been backed with credible evidence, staff in the county’s finance department confirmed Ksh50 million is sent monthly to an undisclosed recipient.

Malava has suddenly acquired the centrifugal force status of the seven parliamentary by-elections coming up on November 27. Since DCP settled on Busiega as its candidate, UDA has been camping in Malava in an attempt to turn the sails in UDA’s favour.

With President Ruto countrywide acceptability waning, there are strong pointers Malava is likely to be the bellwether of what to expect in the 2027 General Election. The state has deployed state machinery and resources to the constituency to ensure the ruling party prevails. For the time being, that looks a long short, hence the evident desperation.

Such is the desperation in UDA that on several occasions Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has tried, without success, to browbeat Busiega into standing down for a UDA candidate. Busiega says Mudavadi has even tried to lure him – though his uncles – to a meeting where he would be “bought” out of the race.

In the past, Kibet has faced searing criticised for his condescending disposition when he addresses the electorate in Malava. The president’s right-hand man also faces accusations of reducing political aspirants in Malava and the wider western Kenya to marionettes who dance – literally – before him.

The condescension infuriates many a political player. Busiega has long questioned why Kibet turned Malava into a “political bedroom” of UDA despite being told openly to keep off.

“I was born in Malava. My parents used to grow sugarcane to educate me and my siblings. I sat for national examinations and passed like any other Kabras child. I was never helped to write the exams like some people campaigning against me. I am lawyer and I have proved my mettle by representing leaders Ruto wanted cripple with tramped up charges. I proved Ruto and UDA wrong. Kibet should prove his mettle by telling us what happened to him when he was sitting examinations at Surungai Secondary School. Did he sit in the desk and write examinations like me,” Busiega charged at a campaign rally in Manda.

It is alleged one of the candidates Kibet is fronting sat the exams for him at Surungai Secondary School in Malava, and so he wants to use the by-election to repay the fraud by financing his election bid.

During the fundraiser in Malava the president’s man made the declaration that the region should wait for their turn to succeed Ruto in 2032 and hailed the close relationship between Luhyia and Kalenjin people. The declaration was met with swift response by DCP and Democratic Alliance Party of Kenya (DAP).

The parties dismissed president’s aide’s comments as “cheap rhetoric” intended to hoodwink the Luhyia community into supporting Ruto’s unpopular regime, which has also been under scrutiny for marginalising the community. The community accuses Ruto of side-lining it in senior government appointments.

Historically, DCP’s Busiega and DAP led by Seth Panyakoo said, the Luhyia and Kalenjin are strange bedfellows as demonstrated by sporadic interethnic skirmishes at Kipkaren Matete, Kuvasali and Kaimosi during the 1992, 1997, 2007 and 2013 elections. In the 2007 post-election, the Kalenjin targeted the Luhyia and Kikuyu property in Rift Valley – with President Ruto forcibly acquiring land belonging to Adrian Muteshi – for which they have never been compensated.

During the clashes, the Kalenjin reduced to ashes houses and stole livestock owned by the Luhyia. In return, the Luhyia killed dozens of Kalenjin men underlining mutual historical disdain that stretches to as far back as to before the First World War in 1914.

Condescension and suspicion dominates the relationship between the two communities, with the Luhyia profiling the Kalenjin primitive and bloodthirsty. The Kalenjin in turn crave for political hegemony over the Luhyia but often fall short as the latter rank high among the most educated communities in Kenya.

On Friday, Kibet said it was time for Mulembe Nation (Luhyia) people to succeed President Ruto and invited the region to “walk with him as he seeks his second and last term” in 2027. After that, he said, it is when communities in western can think of having a stab at the presidency.

“We have been close political allies and since the Mulembe Nation has contributed immensely to this country’s leadership. It is time for us to return the favour by supporting them in 2032 to clinch the top leadership,” he vouched.

He said Mulembe Nation has stood firm with the Ruto government and should not be lured into opposition. He blasted the DCP brigade in the constituency for holding opposition meetings in Malava to sell the electorate “hot air” instead of tangible development agenda.

“Let me remind you that we are all Kenyans – with over 43 tribes. There is no way one person can brand this country as a one-tribe outfit just to feed his nefarious ego to be president,” Kibet warned.

He told leaders in western Kenya to start building alliances with other communities in readiness for the 2032 as presidential poll. He said western Kenya and Moses Wetang’ula occupy a special place in his heart and in the heart of the United Democratic Alliance. He lauded the Kabras subtribe for leading Kakamega in delivering votes for Ruto in the 2022 presidential election.

Speaker Wetang’ula was also categorical that Ford Kenya, together with the broad-based Kenya Kwanza arrangement, are “firmly behind UDA candidate in Malava”. He left no doubt that his party will align its machinery with the UDA nominee.

On national politics, Wetang’ula observed that the pact between Kenya Kwanza and ODM to form broad-based government is irrevocable. He said the Mulembe Nation will reach out to other tribes, among them the Luo, to back Luhyia for presidency in 2032.

Mulembe nation has for decades stood with Jaramogi Odinga and his son Raila Odinga as they sought the country’s presidency. Wetang’ula also hailed the long friendship between the Kabras and Bukusu subtribe, insisting that the unity of the region is key for political success.

“Let us remain united as western region and be one bloc to enable us to move as one entity as we seek outside supporting our quest to clinch the country’s leadership as we need to have massive  supporting 24 counties and be able to record 50 per cent plus one to secure the presidency,” he requested.   

He assured President Ruto of a second term and said Mulembe Nation is in government for the long-haul.

“We cannot be elected and de-electing leaders now and then just because somebody somewhere is not comfortable and is not in government. He has asked Kenyans to remain focused and give leaders time to deliver instead of waging never-ending wrangles for no reason. This country belongs to all of us and not you alone,” he cautioned.

Wetang’ula further disclosed that the government had already signed and awarded the contract for the tarmacking of Malava-Samitsi road. He said President Ruto will soon come to launch the project as well as the Malava KMTC (Kenya Medical Training College). He also said the Trans-African Highway will be expanded at Kaburengu to a dual carriage to minimise accidents. He also announced plans to upgrade the Kakamega and Bungoma referral hospitals to level six facilities. 

The United Democratic Alliance fundraiser for PLWD in Malava was presided over by Speaker of National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula. Disguised a gesture of compassion, in reality it was intended to be a display of political muscle ahead of the November 27 by-election.

In a rare show of unity, Malava parliamentary aspirants on UDA ticket Leonard Shimaka, Simon Kangwana Chimuche, David Ndakwa and Rhyan Injendi Malaulu graced the occasion and pledged to support whoever among them clinches the UDA nomination.

• A Tell Media report / By Isaiah Wakhungu Andanje