Former Member of Parliament Benjamin Washiali has officially announced his bid to recapture his Mumias East parliamentary seat, currently held by Peter Kalerwa Salaysa.

The United Democratic Alliance politician and an ally of President William Ruto made the declaration on Monday, December 1, 2025, stating that his name will be on the ballot in the 2027 elections.

On the ballot

“I want to officially announce that if God and you people wish so and permit, in 2027, I will be on the ballot paper,” he declared.

Earlier on, Washiali had hinted at his political comeback through his Facebook page after meeting bodaboda groups on Sunday, November 30.

“I have had an engagement with my brothers from the boda boda sector within Mumias East with nostalgia. I have heard your lamentations. I am back. Let us make this happen once more,” he said.

This comes after he opted against contesting the seat in the 2022 polls.

Washiali, who served as the MP since 2007, announced in early 2022 that he would not seek re-election and would instead focus on supporting Ruto’s presidential campaign.

Mumias East 2022 race

The declaration paved the way for a leadership vacuum, leading to a contest pitting Peter Salaysa, David Wamatsi, and Benson Mapwoni.

Salasya, running on a Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) ticket, won the election with 12,140 votes, defeating Wamatsi (ANC), who came in second place with 9,043 votes.

Return to politics

Mapwoni, who was Washiali’s preferred successor, garnered 5,118 votes and finished a distant third. After the election, Ruto repaid the former MP’s loyalty by appointing him as the chairman of the Tourism Regulatory Authority board for three years, a role he has served until now.

The UDA-allied politician has been a conspicuous figure in the just-concluded Malava by-elections where he was among those vouching for David Ndakwa’s candidature.

He joins a number of politicians and former government officials who have announced a return to politics ahead of the 2027 polls.

Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has also announced his bid to contest the Trans Nzoia governor position.

The former CS is currently Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the UN-Habitat in Nairobi after being dismissed from her health docket.

She earned the diplomatic post in an executive reshuffle undertaken by President William Ruto on Thursday, March 20, 2025.