Kakamega Gubernatorial race: Why Malala–Muhanda pact could unseat Barasa
By Mabonga Makhanu, January 28, 2026The Kakamega 2027 gubernatorial race is now beginning to take shape. Several contenders have already shown interest in the seat. The first is the incumbent governor, Fernandes Barasa, who is determined to defend his seat.
Others include Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) deputy party leader Cleophas Malala, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, and County Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, who has also come out to challenge the governor.
Malala-Muhanda pact
Cleophas Malala, who was defeated in 2022 by Fernandes Barasa, is planning a comeback to county politics after being in the political cold for over two years following his ouster from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) position of Secretary General.
He recently stated during an interview with a local media station that he is ready to set aside his personal feud with Elsie Muhanda.
Despite being on different sides of the political divide, he proposed that one of them shelve their ambition to take the deputy position so they can work together and give Fernandes Barasa a serious challenge in 2027.
“Mimi niko na uhakika, nimefungua roho niko tayari kusupport Mama Elsie niko sure tumekaa chini tumeongea mmoja akuwe Governor mwingine akuwe Naibu, bora tu tutoe Barasa,” Malala said.
Muhanda’s endorsement
This alliance places them at a strategic advantage. In addition to their agreement to work together, Elsie Muhanda has already been endorsed by Wycliffe Oparanya, who has also fallen out with Fernandes Barasa.
Oparanya recently announced his support for the county woman representative while launching political attacks on Barasa, a man he supported to ascend to power in 2022, after Barasa refused to support Oparanya’s own deputy, who had served under him for 10 years during his two terms as Kakamega governor.
Beyond Oparanya’s backing, Elsie Muhanda is benefiting from growing political isolation around Barasa. Over 75 per cent of Kakamega MPs have rallied behind Oparanya. A notable example is Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, who also fell out with Barasa following last year’s ODM Kakamega County chairmanship contest—a race that Barasa won but Nabwera publicly disputed, claiming he was the rightful winner.
MPs backing Oparanya
Currently, only Mumias East MP Peter Salasya and Malava MP David Ndakwa have not publicly declared support for Oparanya or stated their positions in the gubernatorial race. This means at least 10 MPs are already aligned on one side of the political divide.
Elsie Muhanda has accepted to partner with Malala in a bid to oust Fernandes Barasa, who is now increasingly operating as a politically isolated figure, with no MPs openly backing him.
This was clearly demonstrated during the ODM Linda Ground Forum, which saw two separate tours in Kakamega County, one led by Barasa and the other by Oparanya. No Kakamega MP attended Barasa’s event, while all were present at Oparanya’s gathering in Butere, where they openly declared their support for him.
This political combination is likely to defeat Barasa, with Boni Khalwale, who is also interested in the seat and is vying through his newly launched party, the United Patriotic Front (UPF), a party he has kept relatively low-profile, expected to trail in a distant third
Political analyst Herman Manyora has previously urged Malala and the county woman representative to work together exactly as they are now proposing, arguing that such a partnership offers the strongest chance to defeat Fernandes Barasa.