Moses Wetangula the 5th: Here Is Why Wetangula Is in Charge of the Country

In a temporary shift of leadership within the Kenyan political arena, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has assumed a pivotal role as both President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have embarked on official overseas missions, in accordance with the constitutional protocol of the country.

According to Kenyan law, when both the President and Deputy President are abroad, the highest-ranking office is vested in the Speaker of the National Assembly. 

Adding to the uniqueness of the situation, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Attorney General Justin Muturi are also currently abroad, representing Kenya on official matters in London, United Kingdom.

State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed has conveyed that President Ruto is presently attending the 78th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York. His departure occurred on the night of Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

The official statement elaborated on President Ruto's itinerary, stating that he is scheduled to visit Silicon Valley in San Francisco, where he will engage with leaders from tech giants such as Microsoft, Intel, Google, and Apple, among others. 

The primary objectives of this visit are to foster investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations with the United States, with a particular emphasis on nurturing Kenya's burgeoning startup sector, known as the Silicon Savannah. 

Furthermore, the President will play a significant role in the UN Secretary-General Climate Ambition Summit, where he is expected to address critical climate-related issues.

President Ruto's departure was marked with a farewell ceremony at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, attended by several high-ranking officials, including members of his Cabinet. 

Notable figures present at the event included Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipuchumba Murkomen, and Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruyiot, Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla, and Kenya Airports Authority Board Chairperson Caleb Kositany were also in attendance.

Meanwhile, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is representing Kenya at the Global Coffee Producers and Roasters Forum in Bogota, Colombia. Following the conclusion of the forum, he will journey to Cuba to participate in the G77 Summit. 

This overseas mission is driven by the necessity to explore new markets for coffee produced in Kenya, and Deputy President Gachagua departed the country earlier in the week to fulfill these official responsibilities.