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Rt Hon Moses Wetangula’s election as the eighth speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya in September 2022 is a timely reminder of the enduring value of patience and determination in the quest for success.
In a parliamentary system, the political alliance or political party with the parliamentary majority typically gets to decide who the speaker will be. With this in mind, Rt Hon Wetangula’s election as Speaker of the 13th Parliament was well earned as he proved himself to be a resourceful and results-oriented campaigner for President William Ruto in the 2022 polls. He delivered votes where it mattered most – in his populous political backyard of Bungoma County, Western Kenya.
Indeed, Rt Hon Wetangula’s political track record demonstrates his proficiency in securing electoral victories. He achieved consecutive terms as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sirisia Constituency from 2003 to 2013. Following that, he assumed the role of Bungoma Senator in both 2013 and 2017. In the 2022 elections, he clinched victory once again as the Bungoma Senator, relinquishing the seat upon his election as Speaker of the National Assembly.
Rt Hon Wetangula also brings a wealth of experience from his distinguished tenure as Kenya’s top diplomat. He served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2012, following his role as Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs between 2003 and 2008.
Rt Hon Wetangula’s career highlight as a diplomat was his pivotal role in resolving the 2008 post-election violence in Kenya. After the outbreak of chaos, former President Mwai Kibaki dispatched Wetangula to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to address the African Union (AU) and reassure them of Kenya’s stability during a tumultuous period. Despite the challenging circumstances, Wetangula’s mission bore fruit, paving the way for the peace process ultimately mediated by the late former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.
Rt Hon Wetangula credits his time at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with equipping him with a global mindset and a wide perspective on issues, skills he honed when he moved to the equally important Ministry of Trade.
As the Speaker, Rt Hon Wetangula is also the Chair of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), one of the independent commissions established under Article 127 of the Constitution of Kenya.
The PSC is responsible for a variety of duties, including providing services and facilities to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the Houses of Parliament, that is, the Senate and National Assembly of Kenya; constituting offices in the parliamentary service, and appointing and supervising office holders; preparing annual estimates of expenditure of the parliamentary service and submitting them to the National Assembly for approval, and exercising budgetary control over the service; and undertaking, singly or jointly with other relevant organisations, programmes to promote the ideals of parliamentary democracy.
In his position as Chair of PSC, Rt Hon Wetangula seeks to continue building and strengthening Parliamentary diplomacy, and the long and rich relationship the parliament of Kenya has had with key players, including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA); the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU); the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
Rt Hon Wetangula’s academic journey saw him pursue a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree at the University of Nairobi (UoN).
Following his graduation in 1981, Rt Hon Wetangula briefly served in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), holding roles as Chief Magistrate and District Magistrate before venturing into private practice a year later.
In his private practice, Rt Hon Wetangula handled numerous high-profile clients, and was also courageous enough to represent a number of soldiers who had been charged with an attempted coup d’etat against the then president, Daniel arap Moi. This role earned him a prominent position in the public space, culminating in his nomination as an MP, and later the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
In March 2023, Rt Hon Wetangula was conferred with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Kibabii University, Kenya during the institution’s seventh graduation ceremony. In his acceptance speech, Rt Hon Wetangula remarked that, “This honour is not just a reflection of my personal achievements, but it is also a holding true to the hard work and dedication of many individuals who have supported and inspired me through my journey this far.” He reaffirmed that he will always be reminded of the immense responsibility that comes with the privilege, adding, “I pledge to uphold the values of this institution and to use my knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in the world.”
