By Henry Kimoli
The sacking of Moses Wetangula as Ford Kenya boss and his replacement by Wafula Wamunyinyi has brought to the fore the ongoing vicious 2022 politics.
Talk is rife ODM Supremo Raila Odinga is behind the Wetangula tribulations as he seeks a final stab at the Presidency in 2022.
Talk is rife that Raila wants to fumigate and clean his backyard ahead of an expected titanic battle with Dp William Ruto for the Presidency.
Wetangula’s removal is not a surprise to political pundits.
The Bungoma Senator has never been considered a child of Ford Kenya, the party whose alumni include Masinde Muliro, Jaramongi Oginga Odinga, Michael Kijana Wamalwa, and yours truly, Raila Amolo Odinga.
Wetangula is viewed to carry the “blue KANU” blood, which to date is detested in Western Province.
According to Ford Kenya die-hards, Ford Kenya should have remained in the trusted hands of Eugene Wamalwa, considered to be ahead of Wetangula in the pecking order of the Ababukusu Clan.
Unofficially, the Bukusu clan claims coronation rights to Ford Kenya. And Wetangula, a naturalized Bukusu, is not considered royal enough to lead the party.
As such, it was easy for Ford Kenya owners to plan, connive, and execute the plan to fumigate Wetangula…on the eve of Madaraka day.
There will be no tears for the Bungoma Senator.
Politically, he stands of shaky ground in Bunguma, where he rose to political prominence during the inquiry into the death of the late Robert Ouko.
It is while he held the brief for the Ouko brief that Wetangula brashed shoulders with big wigs of the then President Moi Government.
He remained fixated in KANU during the clamour for Multipartism and the subsequent 10 yearcfinal term for President Moi. This was between 1990 and 2002.
For his loyalty, Wetangula made a fortune from the system in legal fees and other freebies that Moi doled. He was also nominated to Parliament in 1992 and 1997. During this period, Wetangula was one of the legislators detailed by KANU to infiltrate the opposition ranks. This role he executed to the satisfaction of his masters.
When forces of natural attrition began to wear Ford Kenya, Wetangula so the leadership vacuum and grabbed it.
His court poet skills perfected during the KANU days came in handy for him during the Mwai Kibaki era. He was appointed the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
This docket however nearly landed him in jail, over the purchase of Tokyo land to build an Embassy.But was vindicated by investigators.
Sometimes in 2016, Wetangula made a report of assault at Karen Police, claiming to have been beaten by his wife loosing machoness amongst his peers.
There are rumours in Western Kenya that Wetangula roots are in Uganda.
This is the second time the Ford Kenya leader had faced humiliation since 2018.
He was dropped as Leader of the Senate Minority in favour of James Orengo shortly after the handshake.
The Wetangula chronicles have added colour to the ongoing political fumigation in Kenya, ahead of the President Uhuru Kenyatta succesion.
His removal officially signals the end of the NASA political vehicle, assembled by Raila Odinga ahead of the 2017 polls.
Wetangula, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Musalia Mudavadi were the other principals.
Kalonzo and his Wiper party are deep in a relationship with the President Kenyatta government, where he plays a key role.
Musalia is still procrastinating on his next political move. He insists he will be in the ballot in 2022.
The replacement of Moses Wetangula by interim part leader Wafula Wanyonyi has brought to the fore the ongoing vicious 2022 political battles. He says what goes around 1comes round. Wetangula literary stole the leadership of Ford Kenya from Musikari Kombo.
