Western region at crossroads as Supreme Court judges give petition ruling
Today’s Supreme Court ruling on the August 9 General Election petition will have far-reaching implications to a number of senior politicians from the Western region.
Leaders allied to Kenya Kwanza Coalition and the Azimio-One Kenya Coalition Party yesterday expressed optimism that today’s ruling by the seven-judge Bench would favour their respective affiliations.
A number of political analysts said the verdict would shape the future of the Western politics in one way or another.
Politicians in focus include ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula of Ford-Kenya, Kakamega Senator-elect Boni Khalwale and his predecessor Cleophas Malalah who are in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance led by President-Elect William Ruto.
Others are outgoing Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, former Trade Minister Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende and former MPs Wafula Wamunyinyi and Dr Eseli Simiyu all allied to Azimio led by Raila Odinga.
Raila moved to the apex court to challenge a declaration by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati that Ruto had won the presidential elections with 7,176,141 votes against Raila’s 6,942,930 representing 50.49 per cent and 48.85 per cent respectively.
“The ruling will have a lot of political implications on the politics of the Western region. It will be a boost to the political ambitions of some and mark the end of others,” said Fred Wesonga, an analyst.
Ruto has promised to pick Mudavadi as his Prime Cabinet Secretary and Wetangula Speaker of the National Assembly, in addition to 30 per cent slots in his presumptive government.
Raila has, on the other hand, pledged to appoint Oparanya to the National Treasury, retain Wamalwa, nominate Marende as Speaker of the Senate plus other goodies, including revival of collapsed factories and establish new ones in the region.
Oparanya, who has completed his two-term limit as Kakamega Governor and will officially hand over on Thursday, has increasingly become the centre of focus, especially after Azimio candidates clinched the governorship, 11 MPs and 48 MCA seats in Kakamega which has 12 constituencies and 60 Wards.
