Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has defied fellow broad-based government leaders from Western Kenya, stating that the region is not interested in the deputy president position.

Speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the outspoken deputy governor, who also doubles as President William Ruto’s deputy campaign coordinator in the western region, told his counterparts to abandon the running mate debate and instead focus on the 2032 General Election.

According to the former Lugari MP, the region should unconditionally support William Ruto in 2027 without demanding anything in return and wait for him to hand over power to Western Kenya in 2032.

“I was in Naivasha; they brough a suggestion of a deputy president but that should not be our focus. Our focus should be in 2032,” Savula said.

Savula argued that the region has previously produced a deputy president but did not reap significant benefits from the position. He noted that this is why leaders should focus on how the region will inherit the presidency from William Ruto rather than imposing conditions such as the running mate slot.

He further stated that the only realistic path to the presidency for the region is through support from the Rift Valley voting bloc, which he described as one of the largest in the country.

He added that leaders from the region should focus on ensuring development reaches Western Kenya rather than becoming obsessed with discussions surrounding the deputy president position.

Naivasha declaration

His remarks come days after a section of Western Kenyan leaders led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula converged in Naivasha and declared that they would settle for nothing less than the deputy president position in the 2027 General Election.

In a statement read by Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, who also serves as deputy chairperson of the Western Kenya Parliamentary Caucus, the leaders argued that the region commands sufficient numbers to justify being allocated the second-highest office in the land.

Ruto’s campaign machinery

The debate comes at a time when President Ruto has established three campaign structures aimed at rallying Western Kenya behind his re-election bid.

The first campaign team is led by Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka and deputised by Ayub Savula. It comprises governors and deputy governors from the Western region, excluding Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, who is a key figure in the United Opposition.

The second team comprises the Western Kenya Parliamentary Caucus led by Sirisia MP John Waluke and deputised by Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera.

The third campaign structure is led jointly by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. Wetang’ula has recently proposed the formation of a joint political alliance between the trio to spearhead President Ruto’s re-election campaign in the region.

On the other hand, COTU boss Francis Atwoli recently intimated that he would rally leaders from the Mulembe region who previously supported the late Raila Odinga and align them behind President Ruto’s re-election bid.