Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga has endorsed Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka for the Kisii gubernatorial seat in the 2027 general election.

Speaking during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Kisii County at its first stopover on Friday, July 3, 2026, the outspoken legislator urged Kisii residents to reject incumbent Governor Simba Arati and instead rally behind the vocal senator.

“Nataka mwaka kesho mkienda kupiga kura mchague huyu senator wenu awe governor wa hapa,” Kalasinga said.

Kalasinga described Onyonka as a fearless leader and a defender of the people’s interests, saying he has demonstrated the capacity to lead and deliver for the people of Kisii.

He further praised the senator for his courage and principled leadership, noting that he has earned admiration from many Kenyans across the country for consistently speaking out on issues of national importance.

This comes days after the Kisii Senator declared his 2027 bid against the incumbent Simba Arati.

While speaking during a condolence visit by Kisii leaders following his mother’s demise at his Utawala home, the outspoken senator also used the opportunity to urge leaders within the broad-based government to tell Simba Arati that he has nothing personal against him. He said what he differs with him on are principles, adding that they both harbor similar gubernatorial ambitions.

“Those who are in broad-based should tell Simba Arati that I have nothing against him; we only disagree on matters of principle, and I want to run against him in 2027,” Onyonka stated.

Kisii gubernatorial race

This comes at a time when former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, who is also in the United Opposition alongside Onyonka, is eyeing the Kisii gubernatorial seat.

He has been intensifying his campaigns across the county while rallying behind former Interior Cabinet Secretary and Jubilee presidential flagbearer Fred Matiang’i.

This follows his failed bid in 2022, where he was dwarfed by Arati and was appointed to Ruto’s cabinet as the education cabinet secretary but was later sacked after the Gen Z protests.

Sifuna endorses Onyonka

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has also endorsed Onyonka for the Kisii gubernatorial seat, saying that he used to think the incumbent governor was his friend, only to realize he was not after the death of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Sifuna said that was when he realized their friendship had faded.

So far, Onyonka has stated that despite him and Machogu harboring the same gubernatorial ambitions and both being in the opposition, they will, at the appropriate time, sit down and agree on who among them will fly the opposition’s gubernatorial flag.