Speaker Wetang’ula Reflects on Final Efforts to Save His Late Brother

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has shared heartfelt details about the last attempts to save the life of his elder brother, James Mukwana Wetang’ula, whose passing was confirmed earlier this month by his younger brother, Westlands Member of Parliament Tim Wanyonyi.

Wetang’ula spoke at his brother’s funeral held in Tuuti, Bungoma, on Friday, December 19, 2025, offering both a personal reflection and a tribute to his late sibling.

According to Wetang’ula, the final moments were filled with urgency and emotional struggle. Upon realizing his brother’s condition had worsened, he immediately arranged for an ambulance to transport James to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

However, he revealed that advice from James’ wife, who is a nurse, initially led the family to keep him at home rather than seeking hospital care immediately.

“She advised we keep him at home, where he could see people rather than being confined in one place, seeing walls. It was more traumatic,” Wetang’ula recalled.

The speaker explained that the family initially believed it was better for James to be surrounded by close family members in a familiar environment rather than the sterile, isolating environment of an ICU. 

This decision, Wetang’ula said, reflected both medical insight and the family’s desire to ensure James’ final moments were filled with comfort and love.

Despite these efforts, James’ health deteriorated, prompting Wetang’ula to take further action and admit him to the ICU. Unfortunately, by the time he arrived, it was too late.

“In the evening, I was informed my brother was getting worse, so I instructed Dr. Wanyama to admit him to the ICU. When he arrived, I made a follow-up, and I was told James had just left, and that is life,” Wetang’ula shared.

Beyond recounting the final moments, Wetang’ula offered a moving tribute to James’ character and life. He described his late brother as a calm, peace-loving individual who never intentionally wronged anyone. 

Whenever disagreements arose, James preferred to step away rather than engage in conflict, choosing peace and understanding over confrontation.

“He was a person such that if you ever fell out with him, then you were the one at fault, because he never quarrelled with anyone. Whenever he sensed tempers rising, he would simply get up and walk away,” Wetang’ula said.

In a revelation that surprised many, Wetang’ula also disclosed that his brother had initially been on a path toward religious life. 

James had studied at Mukumu Seminary and was preparing for the priesthood before deciding to pursue a different path. 

Wetang’ula explained that worldly considerations influenced his brother’s decision, which the family respected fully.

James later dedicated his life to education, choosing to teach and guide younger generations. He built a life that blended professional commitment with family dedication, leaving behind children and a spouse who became central to the family’s support system. 

Wetang’ula’s reflections highlighted the values of humility, compassion, and understanding that defined James’ life.

“He was calm, kind, and peace-loving. His presence brought calm wherever he went, and his approach to life was about understanding and patience,” Wetang’ula noted.