National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula's classmate, Dismus Masinde, has recounted how National Assembly speaker, Moses Wetangula, was among the top students at Nalondo Primary School in Bungoma County.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, September 8, Masinde described the newly sworn-in speaker as a strict prefect who enforced school guidelines to the latter.
He added that his firm regard and devotion saw him elevated to the school's head boy
Nonetheless, he added that Wetangula was also witty and engaged with other students in various curriculum activities.
"When we were together in primary, he was the class prefect and at that time they were referred to as monitors. Later on, he became the general prefect. In school, he liked playing football, it was his favourite, " he stated.
Further, Masinde opined that the speaker's life was defined by the decision to join the legal profession and take on high-risk cases during the early years of his career.
"He decided to take up the task and defended Hezekiah Ochuka (accused of the 1982 coup attempt) before the Court of Law during the reign of President Daniel Moi. Despite doing well in putting up a defence, the fate of the soldiers seems to have been determined," he added.
On the other hand, outgoing speaker Justin Muturi - who was also Wetangula's classmate - revealed that he shared a room with Wetangula while at the University of Nairobi.
He also described his successor as an able leader who would maintain law and order in the August house.
Notably, the relationship between the two speakers took centre stage during Wetangula's speech where he described Muturi as a brother given the similarity in their political journey.
He concurred that he and Muturi shared a cubicle at the University of Nairobi school of law.
"He is my agemate and a longtime friend. We made our debut in parliament together in the seventh parliament. Earlier on in our years, we were appointed as magistrates on the same date. Indeed I do not know whether to call it fate, coincidence or maybe God's plan," Wetangula disclosed.
"Indeed we have often found ourselves on different political sides, our friendship goes back many years and I am honoured today to take over from him," Wetangula added in his acceptance speech.
Wetangula was declared the National Assembly speaker of the 13th parliament after garnering 215 votes to Marende's 130.
As a requirement of the house, the duo were to go for a second round of voting after the two failed to garner two-thirds of the votes in round one.
However, Marende withdrew from the race.
