Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka has vowed to give his direction over the person best suited to lead the county following his second tenure as the county boss.

The governor made the promise on Monday, December 22, 2025, during an interview with a local western radio station.

While commenting on the state of the race, with less than two years to the polls, Lusaka asserted it is too early to speak on his succession, a facet he says will be done when the time is right.

He, however, acknowledged that the ultimate verdict lies with the residents of Bungoma to make.

Give directions

“It is for the citizens to say who they want to lead the county. As of now, people are still emerging, and the race is shaping up. By next year June, I will be in a clear position to assess the candidates based on their strengths and give direction on who has the capacity to take the mantle of leading Bungoma to the next stage,” he said.

Lusaka was reelected to the position after defeating Wycliffe Wangamati in the 2022 elections.

The Ford Kenya-allied politician dethroned his Azimio coalition counterpart, who had served as the second governor of the county.

His victory came barely inside six months after he opted to step down from his role as the senate speaker after his election defeat in the previous electoral cycle.

The pre-2027 contest to succeed the incumbent has so far attracted businessman Zechariah Barasa, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, Wangamati, and Westland MP Tim Wanyonyi as the early frontrunners.

The latter’s entrance in 2025 shifted the political landscape in the region by jolting the resident politician from the region after he earned the endorsement from a majority of the elected MPs hailing from the region.

Barasa downplayed Wanyonyi’s endorsement from his fellow legislators, dismissing the MP as a tourist from Nairobi and an enforced candidate on the people of Bungoma.

He has styled his candidacy as citizen-oriented, stressing that he retains the people’s best interest at heart.

“You see, how wananchi have embraced me and my candidacy has caused some leaders to suffer from pressure, and others are not getting any sleep,” he stated

 I have the people’s interests and concerns as my priority. I have not been fronted by anyone, and I am the project of the wananchi,” he said.

“I am confident God cannot allow the interest of one individual who was fronted after a meeting in Nairobi to override the broad interest of people of Bungoma,” he added.