National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has cautioned young politicians seeking the presidency against rushing into the race saying the country’s highest office requires experience and a proven record of public service.
In what appeared to be a reference to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who has been mounting a political campaign in Western Kenya as he positions himself for the 2027 presidential race, Speaker Wetang’ula said State House was not an office to be pursued without first building a record of leadership.
“You cannot wake up today and say you want to be president without any track record,” Mr Wetang’ula said on Sunday at his home in Bungoma, where he hosted grassroots leaders from Bumula Constituency.
He said Kenya’s former presidents undertook lengthy political journeys that prepared them for the demands of national leadership.
“Our former presidents had to walk long political journeys that equipped them with diverse experience to occupy State House and manage the affairs of the country and beyond,” he said.
Mr Wetang’ula cited Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto as leaders who held various political positions before ascending to the presidency.
His remarks come amid renewed political activity in Western Kenya ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Mr Sifuna stepping up efforts to build a political base in the region.
The Nairobi senator has been associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has been popularising his presidential ambitions including through recent rallies in Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga , TransNzoia, Bungoma and other counties across the country.
Mr. Wetang’ula urged aspiring presidential candidates to gain more political experience before seeking the country’s top office.
He also said the Luhya community was closer than ever to producing a president and called for strategic political positioning.
The Speaker argued that supporting President William Ruto’s re-election could create an opportunity for the community to succeed him in future.
“I have the experience and the ability to help deliver this dream,” he said, urging the Luhya community to support Mr Ruto’s re-election bid.
Mr. Wetang’ula also challenged senior Government officials from Western Kenya to use their positions to promote development and economic empowerment in the region.
He expressed concern that despite many people from the region holding senior Government positions, elected leaders continued to shoulder much of the responsibility for addressing local development needs.
“Many senior Government officers from our region shy away from supporting our people. Their presence in their rural homes has not been felt at all,” he said.
He cited the construction of Kanduyi Stadium, the revival of Nzoia Sugar Factory and the payment of outstanding dues to farmers and workers as some of the projects he attributed to the Ruto administration.
The speaker also said Sh7 billion had been allocated in the national budget for the construction of a dual carriageway along the Malaba-Eldoret route, which he said would ease congestion caused by trucks transporting goods to neighbouring countries.
He further backed President Ruto’s Vision 2060 agenda, saying a meeting would be held this week with the team behind the initiative, led by Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, to unveil its roadmap.
The initiative, he said, was intended to transform Kenya’s economy and accelerate national development.
The Speaker also called on chiefs and their assistants to intensify efforts to ensure eligible residents obtain national identity cards.
He said more than 30,000 eligible residents in Bumula were yet to acquire the documents, urging local administrators to help close the gap ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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