Why Western remains the 2027 political battleground
By Enock Amukhale and Lucas Barasa, July 4, 2025The opposition brigade yesterday stormed Western, which is regarded as ODM leader Raila Odinga, Prime Cabinet Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Ford-K leader Moses Wetang’ula’s base, and urged locals to lock out President William Ruto from the region.
The opposition led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua showed keenness in diminishing Raila, Ruto, Musalia and Wetang’ula support in the region ahead of the 2027 elections.
Despite the huge voter listing, the region rarely votes as a bloc due to division among its leaders, which is usually capitalised on by top stalwarts from other regions to penetrate the area.
Analysts believe, the region would be a battleground in the 2027 elections and offer a swing vote.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) 2022 register, Kakamega, which is the most populous county in the region, had 844,551 registered voters, Busia (416,756), Bungoma (646,598) and Vihiga (310,043).
Despite being in North Rift, Trans Nzoia with 398,981 registered voters coalesces with Western counties politically.
Already, while Musalia and Wetang’ula have thrown their weight being Ruto’s re-election, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and Mumias East MP Peter Salasya have shown interest for the presidency.
Other political top guns in the region who are reading from different scripts are Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, DCP official Cleophas Malala and former CS Mukhisa Kituyi.
Oparanya, an ODM stalwart is solidly behind Raila who has kept his supporters guessing on whether he will vie for the presidency for the umpteenth time in 2027 or back Ruto. The ODM leader and his party are partnering with Ruto in the broad-based government.
Kituyi, Malala and Natembeya are in the opposition team seeking to dethrone Ruto.
Yesterday, Gachagua, who fell out with Ruto last year, asked the Western electorate to lock out the Head of State from the vote-rich region. While addressing Luanda residents in Vihiga County during the united opposition public engagement rally said he has locked Ruto from Mt Kenya and called on Mulembe people to do the same.
In a hard-hitting speech, Gachagua revealed to the chanting crowd that Ruto is planning to use Raila to win the support of Western region.
Gachagua said Ruto has realised the ground is not good for him and that is why he has decided to engage Raila to help him win support from perceived ODM strongholds.
“Huko kwa Mulima nimefungia Ruto na kifunguo nimeweka kwa mfuko. Hata nyinyi hapa mfunge kabisa (In the mountain (referring to Mt Kenya region) I have locked Ruto out and pocketed the key. You should do the same in this region too),” said Gachagua.
The former DP said Ruto hoodwinked Western region by promising to give them 30 per cent of the government slots, construction of 100,000 kilometres of tarmac roads and revival of collapsed sugar industries.
“Where is the 30 per cent government slots President Ruto promised Western people, where is 100,000 kilometres promised by Ruto to be constructed in Western. Your sugar Industries like Nzoia and Mumias have been sold. By Ruto giving Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula jobs in his government that was all,” revealed Gachagua.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said their journey to remove Ruto from power has started. Kalonzo said Ruto’s leadership has failed and he must pack and go. He said the united opposition will bring the required change in the country’s leadership.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said Ruto’s administration had failed Kenyans.
DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Malala and Kituyi promised to unite locals behind the opposition.
Farouk’s forays
The leaders said Western region has been given raw deal in the government and they have taken the initiative through the united opposition to ensure they get their share in the coming administration.
The opposition tour comes hot on the heels of President Ruto’s close aide and ally Farouk Kibet frequent whirlwind tours of Western, vouching for government’s support and Ruto’s re-election.
A powerful insider within the presidency, Kibet has been traversing the expansive region surrounded by ODM, Ford Kenya and defunct Amani National Congress (ANC) legislators and party officials.
So far, he has toured Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties and presiding over fundraising events in aid of churches and various groups including the boda boda riders, women and youths.
Governor Kenneth Lusaka has also expressed confidence that the Western region will rally overwhelmingly behind Ruto in the upcoming general elections, declaring that the Mulembe nation is now fully united in support of the Head of State.
“President Ruto is poised for a resounding victory. If he could defeat a united front of Uhuru and Raila, what chance does this fractured opposition have?” posed Lusaka.
The governor further dismissed the current opposition as weak and disorganised, adding that Ruto’s development agenda and political muscle make him the clear front-runner.
Lusaka urged the community to continue supporting Ruto’s leadership, noting that the region stands to benefit significantly from his administration in terms of development and representation.
He also took the opportunity to highlight the progress made under his leadership in Bungoma County.