National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has  rejected claims that President William Ruto has sidelined the Luhya community in government appointments, describing the allegations as misleading and politically motivated.

Speaking in Sirisia Constituency, Bungoma County on Friday, the Speaker said critics of the President were deliberately ignoring clear evidence that the Kenya Kwanza administration has given the Western region significant representation at the highest levels of government.

Wetang’ula pointed out that President Ruto had appointed Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, seven Principal Secretaries, and several other senior officials from the Luhya community, appointments he said surpassed those made by previous administrations.

“The narrative that this region has been neglected is false. President Ruto has appointed more leaders from Western Kenya to senior positions than any government before him,” Wetang’ula said.

He revisited the 2022 political pact between President Ruto and leaders from the region, which proposed that Western Kenya would receive 30 percent of government positions if the five counties delivered at least 70 percent of their votes to the President.

However, he noted that the actual voting patterns fell far short of that target.

“Vihiga gave 35 percent, Busia 10 percent, Kakamega 12 percent and Trans Nzoia 45 percent. Despite these low figures, the President still accommodated the community generously in his administration,” Wetang’ula said.

“I don’t know what critics of the 30 percent deal are complaining about,” he added.

The Speaker made the remarks at the Bisunu home of Mr Wycliffe Songwa in South Kulisiru Ward, where he joined family, friends, and leaders in mourning the death of Naomi Nabalayo.

Wetang’ula used the occasion to rally the Luhya community behind President Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid, arguing that the region had already benefited greatly from his leadership and stood to gain even more in a second term.

“The Mulembe nation has every reason to support President Ruto. This government has demonstrated goodwill to our people, and we must reciprocate by standing with it politically,” he said.

He praised the unity of Members of Parliament from the region under the Western Kenya MPs Caucus, saying their cooperation had strengthened the community’s bargaining power.

The caucus, chaired by Sirisia MP John Waluke, brings together 53 MPs drawn from both within and outside the Western region.

“These MPs have set aside party differences to focus on development for our people. As their patron, I will support them to ensure the President gets more votes here than he did in the last election,” Wetang’ula said.

Addressing local development concerns, the Speaker responded to complaints over delays in the construction of the Mayanja–Busunu–Sirisia road, which was launched by President Ruto last year.

He assured residents that he would personally engage with MP Waluke and relevant government agencies to ensure the project is completed before the 2027 elections.

Wetang’ula also encouraged farmers in the region to diversify from sugarcane and embrace coffee farming, saying recent government reforms had made the crop highly profitable.

He cited improved earnings in the sector, noting that coffee prices had risen from KShs 35 per kilogramme to as high as KShs 161.

As evidence of the sector’s revival, he disclosed that Tongaren MP Dr John Chikati had earned KSh 64 million from coffee farming, making him one of the top beneficiaries in the region.

At the same time, the Speaker expressed outrage over the theft of KSh25 million belonging to the Nakayonjo Coffee Cooperative Society, money meant for farmers.

He questioned why no arrests had been made, terming the incident an “inside job” and demanding swift action from security agencies.

“It is suspicious that such a huge amount of money could be withdrawn without proper security arrangements. Those responsible must be held accountable,” he said.

Sirisia MP John Waluke echoed Wetang’ula’s sentiments, urging residents to consolidate their political support behind President Ruto.

“If we stand with the President and give him a second term, this community will benefit even more in terms of development and national leadership,” Waluke said.

The leaders called for continued unity among Western Kenya politicians and residents as the region positions itself for greater influence in national affairs.