Eight MPs endorse Tim Wanyonyi for 2027 Bungoma governor race

By Newsflash Reporter

Eight Members of Parliament from Bungoma County have thrown their weight behind Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi, endorsing him for the Bungoma governorship in the 2027 general elections.

Led by Sirisia MP John Waluke, who also chairs the Western MPs Caucus, the lawmakers declared their unanimous support for Wanyonyi, terming him the best candidate to confront the county’s growing governance and development challenges.

The announcement was made during a press conference held in Nairobi on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

“We have decided that we must come together and discuss issues pertaining Bungoma County. We must see how this County can be revived, and who is best suited for the task,” said Waluke.

The MPs in support of Wanyonyi include Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai), John Makali (Kanduyi), Jack Wamboka (Bumula), John Chikati (Tongaren), Martin Pepela Wanyonyi (Webuye East), Dan Wanyama (Webuye West), and Fred Chesebe Kapondi (Mt. Elgon).

Barasa absent

Notably absent from the meeting was Kimilili MP Didymus Wekesa Barasa, who, according to Waluke, was intentionally left out due to his own political ambitions for the same gubernatorial seat.

“Today, we have met as legislators from Bungoma except Didymus Wekesa Barasa (Kimilili), who is interested in vying for the County’s governorship. We did not want to involve him because he has his own interests,” Waluke said.

He went on to criticize the performance of successive Bungoma County administrations, arguing that devolution has failed to yield tangible benefits for the people of the region.

“Since the inception of devolution in 2014, Bungoma has not seen the results of devolution. As eight MPs, we have decided that we must have a new governor who can revive the County. Our choice is Honourable Tim Wanyonyi,” he declared.

Wanyonyi, who hails from the county and is also the brother to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, is no stranger to high-stakes gubernatorial politics.

In the 2022 elections, Wanyonyi had initially shown interest in contesting for the Nairobi governorship under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a key party in the then Azimio la Umoja Coalition jointly led by ODM leader Raila Odinga and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.

However, ODM leadership convinced him to shelve his bid in favor of Polycarp Igathe, who ran on a Jubilee Party ticket. Igathe would later lose the election to Johnson Sakaja of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Wanyonyi’s possible shift to vie for Bungoma’s top county seat signals a significant political realignment in the region, especially given the apparent unity among MPs who have often been split along party lines.