Ford Kenya party leader and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula (left) and Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka. GRAPHICS/SIMIYU WAKAJUANESS

As the race to 2022 general election noses around the gate, details of leaders are plotting to climb the tribal ladders are slowly emerging.

With the position of a tribal or regional kingpin apparently becoming a hotcake when it comes to bargaining power, Senate Speaker Kenneth Makelo Lusaka is not giving anything to chance having been in the political cold for 5 years after failing to defend his gubernatorial seat against Governor Wycliffe Wangamati.

Lusaka, who was the first Governor of Bungoma County, is now seeking a second comeback to unseat the man who was in charge of his own resource mobilisation in 2013 when Lusaka was vying for the first time.

The duo would later fall out, leading to Wangamati’s successful attempt to send Lusaka home in 2017.

The 2017 election was so volatile and vengeful that Bungoma Senator and Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula vigorously embarrassed Lusaka as “Lord of Looters” of the public resources of Bungoma, specifically calling out the shameful wheelbarrow scandal.

By then, Lusaka’s political star was starting to shine and threatening Wetang’ula’s position as the undisputed Bukusu kingpin after nearly two decades.

Lusaka’s fall gave Wetang’ula an easy time to retain his kingpin position in the Bukusuland, now that Wangamati was a new comer.

As fate would have it, Wetang’ula again fell out with Wangamati, calling him a thief and a worse looter than his predecessor, Kenneth Makelo Lusaka. Wetang’ula is now backing Lusaka’s comeback but with stiff rebellion from majority of residents who feel that Wetang’ula is using personal demands for kickbacks to frustrate upcoming leaders like Lusaka and Wangamati.

Many would have wondered why Wetang’ula would bring back a man he fought so passionately some seven years ago. The details have now emerged.

Having sold his own New Ford Kenya party to Jubilee, Lusaka – being left without a political shelter – desperately joined Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya to unseat Wangamati, who has since ditched the same Ford Kenya for the newly-launched Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).

They say if you can’t beat them, join them. Apparently this vibe is going down well with Lusaka whose close associates have revealed that the former District Officer and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, is playing “fool” just to ride on Wetang’ula’s support and ditch him after assuming office.

“We are just pretending to be idiots for now as long as we get into office because we know he [Wetang’ula] will frustrate us with constant demands of kick-backs and blackmails as done to Wangamati,” said one of Lusaka’s insiders who requested to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation.

“Once Lusaka wins this election, we will now start ignoring Wetang’ula’s and incite his feelings to start fighting Lusaka again.”

The source adds that with such a progress, Lusaka will then turn the residents against Wetang’ula with aim of painting Weta as a man who brings Lusaka, fights Lusaka, brings Wangamati, fights Wangamati, brings Lusaka back and fight the same Lusaka to bring another person.

This way, it’s understood that residents will now reject Wetang’ula and start treating Lusaka as the new Kingpin of the Bukusuland.

It’s understood that part of Wetang’ula’s demands in the Lusaka’s new government should he win, include sharing of power in the cabinet slots and other crucial appointments, sharing of mega flagship tenders, etc.

Interestingly, this is being plotted as Wetang’ula continues to fully throw his weight behind the Senate Speaker, unknown to the trap ahead.

Since defeating the former Minister Local Government, Mr. Musikari Kombo in the heated 2013 Senatoial election, Mr. Wetang’ula has enjoyed the support of the residents of Bungoma County, coming out as the most influential politician in the region.

This has enabled the Senator to share the highest table with the who-is-who in Kenyan politics, among them, President Uhuru Kenyatta, Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga as well as Deputy President William Ruto whom they are now teaming up in Kenya Kwanza with the hope of forming the next Government.

On the other hand, Lusaka’s influence deteriorated when he lost the gubernatorial race to Wangamati and lucky to be handpicked by Uhuruto to be the Senate Speaker, replacing Ekwe Ethuro.

Lusaka’s only hope is to clinch on Wetang’ula’s heavy coat to send Wangamati home in a sweet revenge but with sinister motive against Mr. Wetang’ula, who has given him a free ticket to vie on in August, 2022.

Indeed, politics is a game of personal interests and has no everlasting friends nor foes.

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By SIMIYU WAKAJUANESS

Wakajuaness is a renowned Kenyan Blogger known for his credibility, accuracy and well-researched investigative pieces that have earned him massive online command.

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