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Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa has hinted at pressure to defend his seat in the 2027 general election away from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

For the second time in ten days, Barasa, claimed that he had found ‘good’ friends in President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) who’ve given him the drive to lead and unite residents of Kakamega county and deliver them away from the opposition.

Ushered to speak after prodding by leader of the majority in the senate Aron Cheruiyot, Barasa declared the journey to unite the county away from the opposition had begun and he was its leader.

He said, “If we have any intent to lead this country, we must unite as a people. and that journey to unite the county starts now so that in 2027 our people deliver in government.”

He told a funds drive meeting in Malava constituency in Kakamega that he’s consulting other leaders in Western Kenya on the need to identify and unite voters away from a pre-election opposition ordained political party.

Barasa has courted President William Ruto’s men and is rumoured to be angling to defend his seat on UDA ticket in 2027.

Vicious war

Last week, UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala told a high-profile funeral attended by Barasa that the governor was planning to join UDA and urged him.to make public his intention.

At Tombo secondary school grounds, Cheruiyot said Ruto would win the presidency in 2027 general election, adding UDA was strengthening it support Western region with expected entry of Musalia Mudavadi and Barasa.

Barasa did not deny the claims. He is currently engaged in a vicious war over the Kakamega county ODM chairmanship with County MP Elsie Muhanda. Kakamega county with twelve constituencies is largely an opposition zone with all but Senator Dr Boni Khalwale, Fred Ilana (Shinyalu) and Maluku Injendi (Malava) elected under Kenya Kwanza in 2022 polls.