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Failed exam? Mudavadi, Wetangula, come short in Ruto’s Western Kenya


Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula failed to deliver 70% of Western Kenya votes to President-elect William Ruto’s basket in the August 9, 2022 polls as per the Kenya Kwanza Alliance agreement signed between the three leaders.

Mudavadi and Wetangula are considered among the most influential in Western Kenya, and specifically among the Luhya community. They have been separately referred to as the leaders of the region.

The duo, was, thus, expected to try and deliver the 70% vote tally in the five Western Kenya counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, and Trans Nzoia, in exchange for an offer of 30% of all cabinet and government positions.

But figures realized by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commision (IEBC) indicate the two leaders could only manage a cumulative tally of 38% in these counties, with Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga garnering 60%.

Wetangula, the Ford-Kenya party leader was the best performer of the two politicians.

He managed to deliver 63% of the votes cast on his Bungoma home turf into Ruto’s basket, which was the equivalent of 255,906 votes.

In contrast, Mudavadi, the Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader, faired poorly in his Vihiga home ground, garnering a paltry 36 percent of votes cast, which is equivalent to 67,633 votes compared to Raila’s 145, 714 votes (62%).

Mudavadi and Wetangula also largely disappointed in Busia and Kakamega counties, scooping 17% and 28% of the votes cast respectively for Ruto, which adds to 48,801 and 141,166.

Odinga meanwhile bagged an impressive 226, 042 (81%) in Busia and 357,857 (71%). And in Trans Nzoia, a county reported to have a large Luhya population,  Ruto garnered 114,714 (46%) to Odinga’s 132,440 (52%).

Odinga has dominated Luhya politics for the better part of the past 15 years, gathering more than 65% of all votes cast in the 2007, 2013, 2017, polls.

In fact, the 60% tally in the August 2022 polls was his lowest tally so far.

His popularity is mainly attributed to, among other things, the close proximity between his Nyanza region, and the Luhya region.

Odinga has since settled on outgoing Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya as the head of Western Region campaigns.

He is supported by Ayub Savula, Francis Atwoli, former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati,