Bumula Member of Parliament (MP) Wanami Wamboka has launched a scathing attack on the leaders of the Western region over what he termed as failing in their leadership mandate.

Speaking on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during a burial ceremony, Wamboka decried the regression witnessed in the region, occasioned by leaders’ incessant political lobbying rather than engaging in meaningful politics aimed at bringing gains to the people.

In what appeared as a direct swipe at politicians holding influential positions in the current regime, the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) MP wondered how such leaders lagged, having been in politics long before the likes of President William Ruto and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta rose to positions of influence.

“We have a huge challenge in leadership. We have leaders who have been just lobbying for almost forty years now. I was still in school as they rallied for unity in our region. The same call of unity, even when the likes of President William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta were still in school, and I’m wondering how our leaders lagged behind as others rose to such positions,” Wamboka lamented while addressing the gathering.

Wamboka further warned of the region’s downward spiral continuing, citing the recent leasing of several sugar factories in the region.

“Our region has remained behind. In fact, we have regressed massively from where the likes of Masinde Muliro left us. We are now in a precarious position. We are now seeing (Jaswant) Rai taking over Pan Paper after he was ousted in Mumias. It’s a sad occurrence while our leaders are only concerned with consolidating their support bases,” he stated. 

“It is time such leaders pave the way for new leaders and a different approach to politics,” he asserted.

The MP’s remarks come a month after his counterpart in the National Assembly, John Waluke, hinted at plans of fronting a candidate from the region for the presidential ticket in the 2032 elections.

Speaking during a fundraising event in Vihiga County on Saturday, May 3, 2025, the MP said the region will contemplate either National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula or the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, to lead the region’s presidential aspirations in 2032.

The Western Parliamentary Caucus chairman, while urging the unity of the Mulembe nation, stated that the region must capture power after the seat came near them via President William Ruto’s presidency.

“We have Musalia and Wetang’ula here, and since we cannot have both of them as president. We will eventually pick one of them as our presidential candidate. At the moment, we are vetting them for the job. After President Ruto’s tenure ends in 2032, we must have one of them as president,” he stated.

“The seat is now near home, and we cannot allow it to go back to the mountain where it has been for 35 years,” he added.