Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has challenged residents of Western Kenya to stop demanding government development projects and influential appointments while failing to politically support leaders allied to President William Ruto.
Mudavadi accused the region of weakening its bargaining power through political divisions, arguing that its ability to secure senior government positions and influential parliamentary leadership depended on electing more leaders aligned with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Speaking on Saturday during a meeting with bishops in Nyang’ori, Vihiga County, Mudavadi said Western residents could not expect to influence national resource allocation without electing sufficient numbers of MPs to Parliament.
“You don’t vote for us and then you say give us. Wacheni mchezo. That is the problem that we have in this Western region,” he said.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary explained that Parliament, rather than the Executive, played the central role in determining how national resources were distributed through the budget-making process.
“When it comes to the allocation of resources in this country, it is no longer the prerogative of the Executive. The Executive proposes, but Parliament allocates,” he said.
He argued that Western Kenya needed more parliamentary representation to secure leadership positions in influential committees, particularly those responsible for Budget, Energy and Education.
According to Mudavadi, securing such positions would strengthen the region’s influence in national decision-making and improve its ability to push for development projects.
“I want us to win. Next year, I want to be sitting here with the Budget Committee from Western. I want us to have the Energy Committee chair from Western,” he said.
Mudavadi also questioned why Western Kenya had limited representation in parliamentary departmental committee leadership, challenging MPs from the region to pursue substantive positions beyond oversight committees.
“Let me ask our MPs from Western, which committees do we have as chairs from Western apart from that of the watchdog committee of Public Accounts?” he posed.
He attributed the region’s limited political influence to persistent divisions, claiming that political fragmentation was making it easier for other regions to dominate influential parliamentary positions.
“If we are fragmented and everyone is investing to make sure we are divided, that is what they are doing. They are spending time to make sure you are divided so that you don’t get a chance to be in any committee substantively,” Mudavadi said.
The Prime CS further urged residents to elect more UDA representatives to county assemblies, arguing that political influence at the grassroots level was equally important in securing leadership and development opportunities.
“Give me more MCAs through UDA. We will nominate some of you as MCAs in the county assembly. That is how it works,” he said.
Mudavadi also revisited his earlier appeals for Western Kenya residents to support President Ruto, saying his calls for political alignment had previously been dismissed despite growing complaints about the government’s development record in the region.
“When I was telling you Ruto is winning, let us move together, you thought it was a joke. Now you are saying, ‘Where is the 30 per cent of roads? Why is this happening?’ Where were you when I was going there?” he asked.
His remarks come amid concerns among some leaders and residents over the pace of infrastructure development in Western Kenya, particularly road construction and other government-funded projects.
Mudavadi maintained that President Ruto was preparing to seek re-election in 2027, expressing confidence in his political prospects while challenging opposition leaders to offer Kenyans a convincing alternative.
