About 15 years ago, around 2010, when disasters struck Masabaland, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and the displacement and relocation of the Bamasaba people to different parts of Uganda, Hon. Moses Wetangula Masika, then Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, emerged as one of the strongest politicians in Masabaland, both in Kenya and Uganda. At the time, he was the leader of FORD Kenya and held the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs under President Mwai Kibaki.
The politics of becoming a Foreign Affairs Minister in Kenya are quite different from those in Uganda. In Kenya, such a position is based on political strength and mileage, whereas in Uganda, it often hinges on tribal or nepotistic connections and loyalties.
When disaster hit Bududa, Hon. Wetangula came to the aid of the affected communities. He arrived with over three truckloads (or trailers) of assorted goods, including clothes, foodstuffs, mattresses, blankets, and some cash. He handed these items over to the local district leadership in Bududa, who distributed them to the landslide victims in the Bulucheke and Bukalasi camps. The Bamasaba people continue to remember these kind efforts from Wetangula, now the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya.
Recently, when His Royal Highness Jude Mike Mudoma, the Umukuka III of the Bamasaba people, led a bereavement team to console Rt. Hon. Moses Wetangula following the passing of his dear mother, Anna, Wetangula assured the Umukuka that it is his singular honor to support the cultural institution of the Bamasaba people, to whom he belongs.
Who is Rt. Hon. Moses Wetangula?
Moses Wetangula Masika was born in Nalondo, Elgon in Nyanza District, and will turn 68 years old in September 2025. He attended Nalondo Primary School for his early education, and later went to Busakala and Kamusinga Secondary Schools for his lower and advanced secondary levels. He then studied at the University of Nairobi, where he completed his LLB degree, graduating magna cum laude.
Wetangula’s entry into national politics began in the late 1980s when he co-founded FORD Kenya, a political party formed with the goal of fighting the one-party rule in Kenya. Alongside prominent figures like Mwai Kibaki, Wetangula played a pivotal role in challenging President Daniel Arap Moi’s regime. After intense political pressure from Wetangula and others, Moi was forced to open up the country to other political forces, effectively ending Kenya’s one-party system.
The end of one-party rule in Kenya can be firmly attributed to the activism of Moses Wetangula, who, at the time, was the youngest member of a group of influential leaders, including Kibaki, Kenneth Matiba, and Wamalwa Kijana. When he formed FORD Kenya in 1991, Wetangula was under 35 years old.
The FORD Kenya slogan was carefully crafted to resonate with the Kenyan public amid the repressive political environment under President Moi. During that era, even private conversations could be reported to state intelligence. Topics related to weather were among the few considered safe to discuss publicly. FORD Kenya, an acronym for Forum for the Restoration of Democracy in Kenya, was determined to end the oppressive regime, ensuring that Kenyans could enjoy liberty, freedom, and the right to speak without fear of persecution.
Wetangula’s Political Legacy
FORD Kenya remains a strong advocate for freedom, justice, and truth. The party continues to uphold these values and has its national headquarters in Nairobi.
Rt. Hon. Moses Wetangula is known for his calm and measured demeanor, often taciturn by nature, and his thoughtful approach to leadership. The Bamasaba people, both in Kenya and Uganda, have high hopes for him.
One of Wetangula’s closest political allies in Uganda, former Manafwa District Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Madam Irene Khainza Manghali, has stated that she believes Wetangula will one day become the President of Kenya.
During the bereavement visit led by the Umukuka III, Wetangula was surrounded by more than 60 Members of Parliament, with his supporters bringing over 100 cows and 10 airplanes, along with government comrades, to attend the funeral of his mother. This event underscores the immense popularity of Rt. Hon. Moses Wetangula within the Kenyan political landscape.
Steven Masiga is a researcher from Mbale and a Masters student of Law.
