Mudavadi Tells Western Residents to Back Ruto Allies if They Want Government Jobs and Development

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has challenged residents of Western Kenya to stop demanding government development projects and influential appointments while failing to support leaders allied to President William Ruto.

Mudavadi accused the region of undermining its own political bargaining power through divisions, arguing that its ability to secure senior positions in government and Parliament depended on electing more leaders affiliated with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Speaking during a meeting with bishops in Nyang’ori, Vihiga County, on Saturday, the Prime CS said residents could not expect to influence national resource allocation without securing adequate representation in 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.

Mudavadi Wants Western to Control Key Parliamentary Committees

Mudavadi argued that Parliament had become central to determining how public resources were distributed, noting that the Executive only proposes the national budget while lawmakers decide on allocations.

“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 urged Western Kenya to elect more MPs who support the government, saying the region needed to secure leadership positions in influential parliamentary committees, particularly those overseeing Budget, Energy and Education.

“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,” Mudavadi said.

The Prime CS questioned why the region had secured so few chairmanship positions in parliamentary departmental committees, challenging its lawmakers to explain the situation.

“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 blamed political fragmentation for limiting the region’s influence, alleging that rival political players were taking advantage of divisions to prevent Western leaders from securing substantive 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,” he said.

Mudavadi also urged residents to elect more UDA-aligned members of county assemblies, arguing that political representation at the grassroots level was equally important.

“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 Revisits Calls for Western to Support Ruto

The Prime CS also revisited his previous appeals for Western Kenya residents to politically support President Ruto, saying some had dismissed his calls but were now questioning the government’s development record in the region.

He cited concerns over the pace of road construction and other infrastructure projects, arguing that residents had failed to heed his earlier advice to align themselves with the ruling administration.

“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 came amid criticism from some residents and political leaders over the pace of development projects in Western Kenya, particularly road infrastructure.

Mudavadi maintained that President Ruto was poised to seek another term in the 2027 General Election and challenged opposition leaders to demonstrate that they had a credible alternative.

“And again, I am telling you Ruto is going to win. Tell me, who is serious in that opposition?” he asked.

The remarks underline Mudavadi’s push for greater political alignment between Western Kenya and the Kenya Kwanza administration, with the Prime CS arguing that stronger representation by government allies would give the region greater influence over national decisions and resource allocation.