National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has endorsed former Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha to vie for the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial seat on a Ford Kenya Party ticket in 2027.

Wetang’ula made the remarks while addressing elders, opinion leaders, and stakeholders during the Trans Nzoia Elders and Opinion Leaders Conference on Friday, June 19, 2026.

Taking to his official social media accounts shortly after the event, Wetang’ula revealed that he emphasised the importance of unity, social cohesion, and development-focused leadership at the county level.

During the forum, the Ford Kenya Party leader revealed that the elders had also formally endorsed Nakhumicha’s bid, signalling growing political momentum around her expected entry into the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial race.

Wetang’ula urged residents of Trans Nzoia to rally behind her candidacy, stating that her leadership vision aligned with the county’s development priorities and broader national transformation agenda.

“I joined elders, opinion leaders, and stakeholders at the Trans Nzoia Elders and Opinion Leaders Conference, where I emphasized the critical role of community leadership in promoting unity, social cohesion, and development,” Wetang’ula stated.

“During the forum, elders endorsed Amb. Susan Nakhumicha to contest the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial seat on a Ford Kenya Party ticket. I urged residents to support her vision for transformative leadership and accelerated development in the county.”

Nakhumicha, who previously served in Cabinet, is now emerging as a key figure in Trans Nzoia’s gubernatorial race under the Ford Kenya Party, led by Wetang’ula, as she seeks to unseat the incumbent George Natembeya of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).

Call for Unity and Development-Focused Leadership

The National Assembly Speaker says he has also used the platform to stress the importance of issue-based politics, urging leaders to focus on development agendas rather than engaging in personal attacks, divisive rhetoric, or ethnic-based political mobilisation.

He noted that community leadership remains central to promoting cohesion and ensuring equitable development across all regions.

“Further, I called for issue-based politics, maintaining that leaders should market their development agenda to the people and desist from personal attacks, divisive rhetoric, and ethnic-based politics,” Wetang’ula said in his statement following the engagement.

Support for Ruto’s re-election bid

In addition to endorsing Nakhumicha, Wetang’ula also reaffirmed his support for President William Ruto’s re-election bid, highlighting ongoing development projects under the Kenya Kwanza administration.

He said national development initiatives are now being distributed more equitably across the country, regardless of political affiliation, and urged leaders to support continuity in government programmes.

“I also reaffirmed my support for President William Ruto’s re-election bid, highlighting the key development projects being implemented under the Kenya Kwanza Administration and noting that national development is now being distributed equitably, regardless of political affiliation,” he stated.

Wetang’ula’s endorsement comes at a time when political activity is intensifying across Western Kenya, with leaders positioning themselves for influence ahead of 2027.

As campaigns begin to take early shape, Trans Nzoia is emerging as one of the closely watched battleground counties, with competing interests expected to intensify in the coming months.