Malala set to revamp campaign motorcade ahead of his 2027 Kakamega gubernatorial bid
By Mabonga Makhanu, June 3, 2026Democracy for Citizens (DCP) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has revealed that he is revamping the campaign motorcade he used in the 2022 General Election as he seeks to take a second shot at the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in 2027.
In a statement on his social media platforms on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Malala showcased his 2022 campaign motorcade branded with Amani National Congress (ANC) party colours and artwork, the party he used to contest the elections.
Malala stated that he was dusting off the over 16 vehicles in preparation for what he termed a “battle royale” in 2027.
This comes days after he declared that he remains firmly in the race to challenge incumbent Governor Fernandes Barasa in the next general election and has no intentions of backing down.
Malala, who in recent months has largely focused on national politics alongside his party leader Rigathi Gachagua, traversing different parts of the country, had rarely been seen in Kakamega, his political backyard.
However, over the past week, he has intensified his presence in the county by attending funerals and public events while reaffirming his intention to contest for the governor’s seat.
His renewed activities come at a time when the Kakamega gubernatorial race is beginning to take shape, with several leaders positioning themselves to challenge Barasa and already hitting the ground in preparation for the contest.
Malala-Muhanda pact
In the past, Malala hinted at the possibility of a political pact with Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, who was last year endorsed by Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya as his preferred gubernatorial candidate.
He cautioned leaders opposed to the governor against approaching the election as a divided force, warning that disunity would hand Barasa an easy path to re-election.
Khalwale’s Kakamega ambitions
On the other hand, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, who ceded ground for Malala in the 2022 elections, has also announced that he will be in the race.
This has seen him increase his activities across the county, which remains one of the country’s most populous voting blocs.
Khalwale, who was elected on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, has since relinquished the party and formed his own outfit, the United Patriotic Movement (UPM), which he intends to use as his political vehicle in 2027.
Governor Fernandes Barasa, who often refers to himself as “Italang’i”, meaning “The Lion”, has maintained that he is firmly in the race and ready to face all challengers at the ballot.
The governor has expressed confidence that he will secure a second term despite the growing list of opponents seeking to unseat him.
Oparanya Barasa feud
Barasa was heavily backed by Wycliffe Oparanya during the 2022 elections. Although the two leaders later fell out politically, their differences were eventually resolved through the intervention of ODM party leader Oburu Odinga.