Wetangula: ODM kicked me like a frog, now I dine with kings

By James Omoro | 3mos ago | 2 min read

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has claimed that being kicked like a frog by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) enabled him to become the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Wetang’ula vividly recalls the humiliation he claims he suffered at the hands of ODM leadership while they were still working together after the 2017 General Election.

According to Wetang’ula, the strong statements he made to warn ODM leader Raila Odinga of impending divorce in their National Super Alliance (NASA) in March 2018 was the peak of his frustrations against the Orange party.

At the time, Wetang’ula was serving as the Senate Minority Leader following an agreement that was made by the NASA coalition which comprised his Ford Kenya, ODM, Amani National Congress (ANC), and Wiper Democratic Movement.

The NASA principals gave Wetang’ula the opportunity to serve as the Minority leader of the Senate.

But a disagreement occurred later between ODM and NASA affiliate parties. And on March 20, 2018, Wetang’ula was ousted from the position of the Senate minority leadership. Wetang’ula warned ODM leader Raila Odinga said, “The divorce will be noisy and messy.”

But Wetang’ula now says the frustrations he underwent at the hands of Raila and his ODM party made him successful in his current position.

Speaking during the launch of wifi at Magunga market in Suba South Constituency, Wetang’ula compared his luck to that of a frog that has been kicked by a human being.

Blessing in disguise

The Speaker argued that a human being can decide to punish a frog by kicking it. However, the kicks can turn out to be an advantage by enabling the frog to reach its destination quicker than it would have moved on its own.

“Sometimes you may think you are punishing a frog by kicking it. But the kicks can turn into a blessing because you are helping the frog to move to its destination faster than it could have jumped on its own,” Wetang’ula said.

The Speaker said his success in the current position resulted from being kicked like a crocodile.

“When I was the minority leader in the Senate, I was kicked like a frog and my position was given to someone else. I was annoyed and said the divorce in NASA would be noisy and messy,” Wetang’ula said.

He said his frustrations with the ODM party during that time should be a lesson to many MPs who are now being frustrated by the party.

“I have learned that sometimes you may be punishing someone yet you are blessing him. Today, I am the National Assembly Speaker despite the frustrations I was subjected to,” he said.