Shock and raw emotion filled the air in Tuuti, Kibabii, as National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula bid farewell to his brother, Mwalimu James Mukhwana Wetang’ula, in a burial that mixed tears, politics, faith, and big promises.
Standing before a silent crowd, a visibly shaken Wetang’ula described his brother as more than family.
“He was my adviser, my confidant, my mentor,” he said, his voice heavy with grief. Mourners watched as the powerful Speaker momentarily shed his tough political skin, revealing a grieving younger brother.
James, known for his deep Catholic faith and quiet leadership, was remembered as a man who lived with dignity and left nothing undone.
Wetang’ula said the loss had shaken the family, but insisted they would “stay strong” and protect the legacy left behind.
Then came the political sting that set tongues wagging.
Using the burial as a platform, Wetang’ula turned to the Western Kenya crowd with a sharp message: unity or nothing.
He urged leaders to drop divisions and work together, warning that the region’s future depended on it.
He went further, assuring mourners that President William Ruto was fully committed to reviving stalled projects in the region.
He singled out the troubled Nzoia Sugar Factory, hinting at a comeback that could reshape livelihoods and power politics in Bungoma.
Quoting former US President John F. Kennedy, Wetang’ula challenged Kenyans to stop demanding and start giving back to the nation.