By Courtesy/ Speaker’s Press Unit

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has dismissed opposition claims that President William Ruto failed to honour the 2022 pre-election agreement with leaders from the Western Kenya region, describing the accusations as false and misleading.

Speaking during a church service at St Francis Miyanga Catholic Church in Bumula Constituency, Bungoma County, on Sunday, Wetang’ula defended the President against criticism by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

The opposition leaders have, during recent political rallies across Western Kenya, claimed that the region was short-changed despite backing the Kenya Kwanza coalition in the 2022 General Election.

Mr Gachagua alleged that a pre-election pact guaranteed the region 30 per cent representation in government, including Cabinet and Principal Secretary positions, but argued that the promise had not been fully implemented.

He urged residents to remain vigilant against what he termed repeated unfulfilled political pledges.

However, Wetang’ula maintained that Western Kenya had benefited significantly from government appointments and development projects despite not delivering overwhelming support to President Ruto at the ballot.

“The Western region did not give the President the numbers we had agreed on, but he still honoured the region through key appointments and development projects,” said Wetang’ula.

He noted that Bungoma County delivered 69 per cent of its vote to President Ruto, while support from other counties in the region was considerably lower.

“Do you know how much we gave him? The whole of the Western region, we gave him 20 per cent, and out of the 20 per cent the votes came from Bungoma County. It is only Bungoma County that gave the President 69 per cent of the total votes cast. Kakamega was 10 per cent, Busia 5 per cent, Vihiga 15 per cent and Trans Nzoia was 30 per cent. So it is not true that we agreed on a pact, we delivered and it was not honoured,” the Speaker said.

Wetang’ula cited his own appointment as Speaker of the National Assembly and that of Musalia Mudavadi as Prime Cabinet Secretary as evidence that the region had not been sidelined.

He also pointed to the appointments of Wycliffe Oparanya and Deborah Barasa as Cabinet Secretaries, alongside eight Principal Secretaries from the region.

“As a region, we have received major government positions despite the numbers we delivered in the election,” he said.

The Speaker thanked Bungoma residents for their continued political support, noting that they had elected him senator four times.

“Without the support of the people of Bungoma, I would not have come this far politically. I remain grateful for their confidence in me,” he said.

Wetang’ula was responding to criticism from Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, who accused President Ruto of abandoning commitments made to Western Kenya leaders during the formation of the Kenya Kwanza alliance.

Mr Wamboka claimed that major development projects and senior government appointments were increasingly being directed to the Nyanza region at the expense of Western Kenya.

“It is clear that the President has abandoned the region despite the agreements that were made. We want the pledges made to Western Kenya fulfilled,” said Wamboka.

The MP said he would continue pushing for the region to receive what he described as its fair share of government appointments and development projects.

But Wetang’ula accused the legislator of spreading falsehoods for political gain and insisted that Western Kenya had benefited more under President Ruto’s administration than under previous governments.

He said several projects that had stalled under the previous administration had since been revived by the Kenya Kwanza government.

Among the projects he cited were the Misikhu–Brigadier Road and the Musikoma–Sang’alo–Kakamega Road, where he said contractors had already resumed work.

Wetang’ula also highlighted the ongoing construction of roads, markets, affordable housing units, hospitals, schools and stadiums across the region as evidence that the government was delivering development.

At the same time, the Speaker urged Wamboka to avoid personal attacks and embrace political civility.

“We are pursuing different political ambitions and there is no reason for insults. All I ask for is mutual respect,” he said.

Senate Chief Whip David Wakoli, who accompanied the Speaker, urged residents of Western Kenya to support President Ruto’s re-election bid, saying it would enable the region to secure more development projects and government opportunities.