Sirisia MP John Waluke says the western region will overwhelmingly vote for President William in 2027, to the disdain of the Mt Kenya region.

Waluke made the statement during the president’s stop in Kanduyi, Bungoma County on Friday, January 24, 2025.

The event saw politicians from the area detail the various development projects accomplished by the president as they implored for additional support on the pending ones.

Waluke challenged the people to start a collaborative exercise that will target registering more voters in preparation for the 2027 elections. 

Meet the People Rally, Bungoma Town. https://t.co/XgOzDyOE1M

— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) January 24, 2025

“As your chairman I want you to remain united. Let’s come together as people of the western region. Let us take our voting credentials and be ready for the voting. This time we are going for the real voting that even the people of the mountain will be dismayed,” Waluke said.

The chairman of the Western Parliamentary MPs caucus also told off leaders opposed to the recently announced bonuses for farmers, warning them to desist from commenting on matters touching on the welfare of the farmers from the region.

“We are thankful Mr President for the work you have done. Let people not comment on issues of paying out dividends. In matters of development, Ruto has delivered,” Waluke added.

The remarks come as Ruto’s western tour continues to elicit reactions, especially from leaders across the political divide.

On Thursday, January 23, 2025, Ruto and his entourage were accused of using the development tour to tarnish the name of Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua accused the head of state of failing to tackle the critical issues affecting people and instead peddling lies. He went on to caution the people of Western Kenya to be wary of lies from the head of state.

“I want to tell the people of Western Kenya to be very, very careful. Learn from us. The president spent five years here in Mount Kenya, wooing us with endless promises. He would spend seven days here, convincing us to vote for him. And we did. But now, he doesn’t even dare visit because we’ve come to know him,” Gachagua warned.

“The president and his team went there for a development tour, yet Rigathi Gachagua has become the centrepiece of that tour. Instead of discussing roads, they are discussing Rigathi Gachagua. Instead of addressing water and sugarcane farming, they are busy discussing Rigathi Gachagua. This region needs roads, water, and support for sugarcane farming. Yet, here we are with a development tour that’s been reduced to discussing Rigathi Gachagua,” he remarked

Among other leaders who accompanied Ruto and spoke during the included National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Governor Kenneth Lusaka and Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli.

Also, MPS John Makali (Kanduyi), John Waluke (Sirisia), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), and former governor Wycliffe Wangamati accompanied the president.

 Others present included Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa and his predecessor Wycliffe Oparanya.