Mudavadi and Wetang’ula push for by-election triumph amid 2027 contest
By Aloys Michael, July 18, 2025Just days after the newly reconstituted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was sworn into office, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula have ramped up their campaign efforts in Western Kenya ahead of a pivotal by-election.
The poll, which follows the untimely death of Malava MP Malulu Injendi earlier this year, is now being treated not just as a local vote but as a strategic litmus test for broader political unity and influence ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Shinyalu in Kakamega County, Wetang’ula emphasised the importance of cohesion within the region, cautioning against unnamed leaders sowing seeds of discord.
He asserted that his political partnership with Mudavadi is essential, stating that the two complement each other’s strengths.
“Other regional leaders are nurtured and respected, and that is what we want for our region,” he said.
The by-election is about more than just filling a parliamentary seat; it is about galvanising a unified political front capable of bargaining on the national stage.
Mudavadi echoes sentiments
Mudavadi echoed the sentiment, warning of internal divisions that could weaken the region’s future clout.
“Musalia and I are working together, and we will not allow negative voices to divide us,” he declared.
Mudavadi and Wetang’ula have expressed implicit confidence in the commission, framing their campaigns as part of a credible and democratic process. Wetang’ula, in particular, invoked the 2007–08 post-election violence as a cautionary backdrop, urging the region to reject tribal emotion and the opposition’s weaponising of voter anger.
Western poll battle
Western Kenya is home to more than 4 million registered voters. In 2022, Raila Odinga won 955,185 of those votes, compared to President Ruto’s 611,475.
The challenge now for Mudavadi and Wetang’ula is to reverse those numbers by uniting their base under the Kenya Kwanza umbrella.
“We have received appointments from the President and benefited. Now we must consolidate and plan,” Mudavadi recently said, signalling that the time for internal competition is over and the priority must now be on collective leverage.
However, that task remains easier said than done. Western Kenya’s five counties — Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, and Trans Nzoia — are home to diverse local power centres, historical rivalries, and competing ethnic sub-interests.
Even with a shared front at the top, building consensus on the ground among MPs, governors, and grassroots actors remains a challenge. Additionally, the IEBC’s performance in this by-election will be closely scrutinised. Accusations of mismanagement or bias could quickly undermine the trust Mudavadi and Wetang’ula are banking on.