National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah recently gave a subtle hint on his political future, suggesting that he should deputise Moses Wetangula in 2032.
Ichung’wah was among the political dignitaries in attendance at the burial of Mzee Peter Nasong’o Nabwera in Lugari Constituency in Kakamega County on Saturday, December 28.
During the burial, the rhetoric revolved around succession politics in 2032 with National Assembly Speaker Wetangula touted as the perfect successor of President William Ruto.
Among the leaders who were adamant the Western voting bloc needed to be consolidated with long-term goals in mind was Ichung’wah, who subtly asked Wetangula to consider him his number two in 2032.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula making remarks during the joint State of the Nation address by President William Ruto on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
National Assembly
“Speaker Wetang’ula has served in Parliament for over 31 years, second only to Mwai Kibaki, who served for 40 years,” Ichung’wah said adding “Where did Kibaki go after Parliament? He went to the State House. Wetang’ula can do the same.”
“When that time comes, I hope he remembers me I could be a great deputy president.”
ODM chair in Kakamega Fernandes Barasa echoed Ichungwah’s sentiments as he urged Wetangula’s supporters to back Ruto’s administration as it would position them favourably ahead of future polls.
“We are fully behind President Ruto because his government has brought national unity. But we are also laying the groundwork to ensure that Western Kenya speaks with one voice in 2027 and beyond,” he stated.
Dig Deeper: Ichung’wah’s sentiments come barely two months after he was strongly linked with the Deputy President’s office as Rigathi Gachagua was fighting an impeachment motion which was incidentally also backed by the Kikuyu MP.
The majority leader, who is a staunch critic of Gachagua, went on live TV to refute claims of targeting the Deputy Presidency, which has since been taken up by former Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki.
Before Gachagua was impeached, he was on good terms with Ichung’wah, who revealed in September that the fallout with the former DP stemmed from Gachagua’s move to drum up support for the One Man, One Shilling, One Vote campaign.
In Ichung’wah’s view, the former Deputy President had unfettered access to all senior government officials and could therefore express his views, reservations, and opinions freely but failed to do so and instead went on a campaign to discredit the work the government was doing.
Kimani Ichungwah and Moses Wetangula at a past event. PHOTO/ Courtesy.