Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has announced his quest to unseat his boss, Fernandes Barasa, after officially joining the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

While speaking in Kakamega on Wednesday, February 2, 2026, the outspoken deputy governor, days after ditching his Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), and in the company of a few UDA officials, including Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana, declared that in 2027, he will be eyeing the Kakamega top seat through the ruling party.

Ayub Savula, who has been the deputy party leader of DAP-K, distanced himself from the Eugene Wamalwa-led party, saying that from now henceforth he is not part of the party and is fully supporting the president.

This, he said, informed his choice of using UDA as his political vehicle in his quest for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in 2027. Ayub confirmed that he has already registered as an aspirant through the UDA aspirant forum for the governor position.

“Safari yangu ya kuhama chama cha DAP-K imeanza, na sasa nimejisajili kama aspirant wa UDA; hii safari imeanza rasmi,” he said.

He urged all registered fellow aspirants from all corners of the Mulembe region to begin their journey to Nairobi and prepare for the aspirants’ forum meeting, where a total of 9,165 aspirants have registered. And will be having a meeting with the president.

Savula’s recnet political steps

Savula’s decampment to UDA was not far-fetched, as he had already shown signs before finally declaring his stance during the Malava by-election.

Before decamping from DAP-K, he was spotted campaigning for David Ndakwa as his preferred candidate in the UDA primaries over Leonard Shamaka, whom he said was being fronted by cooperatives cabinet secretary Wickliffe Oparanya.

He appeared to realign with DAP-K and was supposed to be part of campaigns meant to popularise Seth Panyako’s bid, but at the last minute he decamped to support UDA’s David Ndakwa, saying he had foreseen the opposition’s waterloo and wanted to be on the same line as his boss, Barasa, who was in support of Ndakwa.

Salasya to replace Savula

This led DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa to initiate Savula’s replacement, which is yet to materialise. Wamalwa suggested Mumias East MP Peter Salasya for the role and also wooed Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale to join the party as Savula’s replacement.

Recently, Savula joined the team led by Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, who was appointed by President William Ruto to act as the Western Region Coordinator, tasked with wooing the region to support the president’s reelection in 2027. Savula joined the team as Lusaka’s deputy.

2027 kakamega gubernatorial race

Savula now joins the Kakamega gubernatorial race, which has so far attracted four candidates, all eyeing to unseat Barasa in 2027.

Democracy for Citizens (DCP) deputy party leader Cleophas Malala is in the race after his 2022 defeat and has expressed willingness to join hands with County Woman Rep Elsie Muhanda, who is also interested in the seat.

Muhanda was even endorsed by CS Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya to challenge the incumbent.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, known as “the Bullfighter”, is also in the race and has formed his party, United Patriotic Movement (UPM), which he plans to use as his political vehicle in 2027.

Ayub Savula was also in the race for the county job in 2022 but later shelved his gubernatorial ambition and agreed to form a coalition with Barasa.