Sirisia MP John Waluke was met with heckles after declaring his support for Tim Wanyonyi as his preferred 2027 Bungoma gubernatorial candidate over Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, who is harbouring similar ambitions.

While speaking during a funeral service in Brigadier, Tongaren Constituency, on Saturday, September 5, 2025, the MP was met with loud boos immediately after he mentioned Tim Wanyonyi’s name.

Waluke began by dismissing Barasa’s bid, saying that the lawmaker lacks an agenda for the people of Bungoma and is merely relying on political theatrics and sympathy votes.

Waluke has now thrown his weight behind Wanyonyi’s bid, stating that Barasa isn’t fit to occupy the gubernatorial seat he aspires to. He has been moving from one constituency to another alongside Wanyonyi, popularising his bid and stating that Tim is the best remedy for Bungoma’s longstanding problems.

He has expressed confidence in Wanyonyi’s bid, claiming that even in his Sirisia constituency, Tim will be overwhelmingly voted for and will pass unopposed.

This comes at a time when most MPs from Bungoma have thrown their weight behind Tim, leaving Barasa to campaign as a lonely man. Waluke is not the first person to be heckled while trying to declare support for Tim Wanyonyi.

Other heckling incidents

During an empowerment forum in Kanduyi Constituency, Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama was also heckled after trying to do the same. Chants of Didmus Barasa’s name became prominent as he struggled to address the irate crowd amid the interruptions.

This forced Didmus Barasa, who was seated on the dais, to walk to the stage, remove his signature red cap, and bow before the Kanduyi locals in appreciation of their support.

Didmus Barasa has also not spared leaders who are against his bid. He has been critical of County Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga, who has on many occasions openly campaigned against him.

In response, Barasa has endorsed her opponent, Nancy Kibaba, who unsuccessfully contested for the seat in 2022, to unseat her in 2027.

In Webuye West, he has endorsed Lendrix Waswa to face off with Dan Wanyama, who is strongly opposed to his bid.

Barasa recently announced that he will ditch Ford Kenya, which he defected to unofficially after the 2022 general election, and join UDA if the National Assembly speaker refuses to support him.

According to him, everyone around the Speaker is against his bid, making him doubt whether the Ford-K party will grant him the ticket.