Osotsi accuses pro-Ruto Western leaders of plotting 2027 vote rigging
By Mustafa Juma, May 25, 2026Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has accused a section of leaders from Western Kenya allied to President William Ruto of allegedly plotting to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 General Election in favour of the ruling coalition.
In a statement issued via his official Facebook account on Monday, May 25, 2026, Osotsi claimed that growing panic within the Kenya Kwanza camp in Western Kenya was behind what he termed as “threats” of election rigging.
According to Osotsi, leaders aligned to the government had realised that efforts to popularise President Ruto’s re-election campaign in Western Kenya were not gaining support on the ground despite heavy political mobilisation.
“I have taken note of the claims by a section of leaders from Western Kenya on plans to manipulate the will of the people at the ballot ahead of the 2027 General Election,” Osotsi stated.
“The timing of these claims is telling as it comes at a moment when those aligned to the Kenya Kwanza administration have realised that the caucus formed under the leadership of Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka to campaign for UDA and President William Ruto’s re-election in Western Kenya is failing to gain traction on the ground despite utilising a lot of public resources from the president.”
He claimed that some leaders had now resorted to discussing the manipulation of electoral processes after sensing growing public dissatisfaction.
Criticism over unmet promises
The senator further accused the government of failing to fulfil key promises made to the Western Kenya region, despite repeated political engagements and presidential visits.
Osotsi claimed that promises relating to government appointments and infrastructure development had largely remained unfulfilled.
He cited what he described as a failure to honour commitments on allocating 30 per cent of senior government appointments to the region and the pledge to tarmac 1,000 kilometres of roads.
“Sadly, those now calling for unwavering support have little to show for their political alignment with the government. The much-publicised agreement promising the region 30 per cent share of senior government appointments has largely remained unfulfilled, while the pledge to tarmac 1,000 kilometres of roads across the region has failed to materialise in any meaningful way,” he stated.
Questions over budget allocations
The lawmaker also criticised the 2026/27 national budget, claiming Western Kenya had received only a negligible share of the national development allocation.
According to Osotsi, many projects launched by the President in the region had stalled, remained underfunded, or never commenced after public launches.
“Even more revealing is the 2026/27 national budget which exposes the hollowness of the political promises being marketed to the people of Western Kenya. Despite endless political declarations and repeated visits by the President, only a negligible share of 0.2 per cent of the Sh700 billion national development budget has been allocated to the five counties of Western Kenya,” the former ODM Deputy Party leader said.
“Many projects launched with fanfare by the President remain grossly underfunded, raising serious concerns about whether there is any genuine commitment to complete them and transform lives. Some of the projects have been abandoned by the contractors, others have stalled, while some never started after the launch.”
Concerns over sugar sector
The senator also raised concerns about the state of the sugar industry in Western Kenya, accusing the government of mishandling key factories, including Mumias, Nzoia, and Busia sugar companies.
He argued that the region’s economic interests were being neglected while leaders focused more on political messaging.
“Our sugar sector, once the backbone of the regional economy, continues to suffer under questionable decisions that have effectively handed over key factories of Busia Sugar, Mumias and Nzoia without clear benefits to farmers and workers. Instead of aggressively pushing for equitable development allocations and economic revival, some leaders from the region appear more preoccupied with political messaging and chest-thumping over electoral institutions,” Osotsi wrote on Facebook.
Linda Mwananchi vows to protect votes
Osotsi said the Linda Mwananchi movement in Western Kenya would resist any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 elections.
“The people of our region must know that their votes will be protected. The Linda Mwananchi leadership and movement in Western Kenya will not create room for election manipulation or any form of rigging,” he stated.
He added that the movement had gained support across the region and insisted residents were no longer interested in “recycled promises or political public relations exercises disguised as development.”
Western Kenya leaders pledge support for Ruto
Osotsi’s statement comes a day after a section of leaders from Western Kenya held a high-level consultative forum in Naivasha, where they pledged to support President William Ruto’s re-election bid in the 2027 General Election.
Taking to his official X account on Sunday, May 24, 2026, shortly after the meeting, Coperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya said the engagement focused on the future of the region and the collective aspirations of the Mulembe Nation, with an emphasis on unity, cooperation, and development.
Oparanya noted that the meeting provided a platform to reflect on the need for political unity and a shared development agenda across Western Kenya counties.
They stressed that cohesion among leaders from the region was key to accelerating socio-economic transformation and ensuring equitable development.
The leaders further emphasised the importance of collaboration with the national government, saying such cooperation would help unlock more opportunities and improve service delivery in the region.
Oparanya said a united Mulembe Nation would strengthen the region’s political and economic influence at the national level.