Chwele–Kabuchai MCA explains why he ditched DAP-K and ran as an independent candidate
By Mabonga Makhanu, December 9, 2025The newly elected Chwele–Kabuchai Ward Member of County Assembly, Erick Wekesa, has come out to explain why he chose to run as an independent candidate despite heavy backing from the Democratic Action Party (DAP-K).
While appearing on a local radio station on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, he stated that at the point of making the choice on which party to vie for in the Chwele–Kabuchai Ward by-elections, his party of choice, DAP-K, was in wrangles between the party leader, Eugene Wamalwa, and his deputy, who doubles as Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
He said it would not have been good for him because upon entry into the party he would have been forced to take sides, something he felt was not good since both leaders were his friends. He chose not to join the party so as to remain neutral and avoid taking any sides.
DAP-K’s support
But he went ahead to state that after making the decision to run as an independent candidate, the Trans Nzoia Governor assured him of his support and promised to help campaign for him, something which he did.
The same applied to Eugene Wamalwa, who also affirmed his support, although he never came out to the ward to campaign, but he was firmly behind his candidature for the Chwele–Kabuchai seat.
“We are good friends with Eugene Wamalwa and Natembeya, but when I was deciding which party to join, there were wrangles within the DAP-K party between the party leader and his deputy, so I was afraid to join because I could have taken sides, something which is not good since both are my friends,” he said.
“They both assured me of their support, although Eugene Wamalwa never came physically to my ward to popularize my bid, but he assured me of his support.”
He went ahead to state that even George Natembeya went ahead to ask the DAP-K candidate to step down in his favour and support him.
Wekesa’s victory
This comes days after Wekesa made headlines for emerging victorious in the Chwele–Kabuchai Ward by-elections, which is the home of Moses Wetang’ula.
Erick Wekesa faced hurdles, including his rallies being infiltrated by goons and violence meted out against him, which even saw him, Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, former Bungoma Governor, and Natembeya being attacked, with vehicles destroyed by the goons.
But eventually, he managed to defeat the candidate fronted by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who has Kabuchai as his strong political support base.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, who was part of the campaigns to help the candidate fronted by Moses Wetang’ula and his Ford Kenya party win, came out recently during a sit-down to state that they underestimated Erick Wekesa, thinking that their candidate would have an easy win for the Chwele–Kabuchai seat.