From Magistrate to Power Broker: The Rise of Moses Wetangula

Wetangula's rise from a magistrate to top minister.
A collage of Moses Wetangula as a young lawyer (right).
File

Moses Masika Wetangula has expressed his interest in the position of Speaker of the National Assembly in the elections slated for Thursday, September 8.

Buoyed by William Ruto’s win in the presidential election, Kenya Kwanza endorsed Wetangula as the coalition’s choice for the position. 

Should he succeed in his quest to lead the country’s second arm of government, Wetangula will have reached the pinnacle of his career in governance which spans over 30 years - the third in command in the pecking order.

Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula and President-elect William Ruto at a past event.
Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula and President-elect William Ruto at a past event.
Twitter
Moses Wetangula

After graduating with a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Nairobi, Wetangula was appointed as a Chief magistrate by the Judiciary. He was later promoted as a District Magistrate in 1983. 

Wetangula then quit his job to pursue private law practice through his law firm, Wetangula & Company Advocates. He is, remarkably, known for having represented the soldiers accused of orchestrating the 1982  abortive coup. 

In 1993, Wetangula made his debut in national politics when he was nominated as a Member of Parliament by the Kenya African National Union (KANU) where he served until 1997. He was elected as Sirisia MP in 2002 to win his maiden political seat. 

The highlight of his long years of governance, however, is his tenure at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After his role in former President Mwai Kibaki’s campaigns in the 2007 election, Wetangula was appointed to the high-ranking position in 2008.

However, the results of the election were contested by the Orange Democratic Movement party (ODM) which occasioned negotiations to arbitrate the two sides. 

Wetangula was among the representatives of Kibaki's Party of National Unity- PNU side in the arbitration process spearheaded by former United Nations Secretary-General the late Kofi Annan. He alongside, Martha Karua participated in the negotiations preceding the signing of the National Accord in 2008 which restored calm in Kenya. 

He was later reinstated to his position as the Minister of Foreign Affairs after the formation of the Government of National Unity in April 2008. He held the position for four years where he played an active role in shaping the government's foreign policy. 

Notably, Wetangula was trapped in Bamako Mali while on an official visit during a coup by the military in 2012. Upon his return to the country, Wetangula was redeployed to the Ministry of Trade in March 2012. 

In the 2013 elections, Wetangula led his FORD Kenya party into an agreement as one of the affiliate parties of the Coalition For Reforms and Democracy (CORD). He was also elected as the first Senator of Bungoma County, a position he held for 10 years. 

In the run-up to the 2022 general election, Wetangula made a surprise move to join hands with President-elect William Ruto under the Kenya Kwanza Coalition. He has been praised for having marshalled massive support for Ruto in Bungoma County which was previously perceived as an ODM stronghold.

Wetangula, 65, resigned as the Bungoma Senator-elect on Tuesday, September 6, to vie for the position of  Speaker in the 13th parliament. He will face Kenneth Marende who was the speaker in the 10th parliament.

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula during a session in the House on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula during a session in the House on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.
File