Sirisia Member of Parliament (MP) John Waluke has hailed President William Ruto for appointing Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka to serve as the Western Region campaign coordinator ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking after paying a condolence visit to the family of a Webuye East parliamentary aspirant, Lendrix Waswa, on Friday, January 9, 2025, the lawmaker welcomed the president’s decision to appoint the two-term governor, who is now tasked with ensuring that the region stands solidly behind President William Ruto.

Waluke said the appointment was a positive move and noted that leaders from the region are ready to work together, putting aside their differences, with the main goal being to deliver votes for the president.

“Ruto juzi ameteuwa Gov. Lusaka kuwa chairman wa campaign western region hii yote, na sisi rais tunashukuru kwa hio appointment; sisi tutafanya kazi tuungane na hata akina Savula. Haja yetu ni kura,” Waluke said.

He went on to state that leaders from the region are now prepared to rally behind Governor Lusaka and Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, who has been appointed to serve as Lusaka’s deputy. According to Waluke, this demonstrates that Western Kenya leaders are firmly behind the broad-based government.

The Sirisia MP also urged residents of his constituency to support President Ruto’s re-election bid, calling on them to vote for him in 2027. He emphasised the need to continue supporting the current administration to allow the president to secure a second term and continue delivering development projects across the country.

“Tuendee na serikali ya William. Tusupport William Ruto kwa vyovyote vile. Tumpee second term, aendelee kufanya aendeleo mengi kama alivyoafanaya.”

Savula ditches DAP-K

His remarks come in the wake of a meeting held in Bungoma and chaired by Governor Lusaka, during which the governor announced that he had been selected to serve as President Ruto’s coordinator in the Western region. The meeting was largely attended by leaders aligned with the broad-based government.

During the same forum, Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula announced his decision to ditch his party, the Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K), where he had been serving as one of the deputy party leaders, and instead join the broad-based government.

Savula stated that he would now deputise Lusaka in their efforts to ensure that President Ruto secures significant support from the Western region in the 2027 General Election.

He defended his decision to leave DAP-K, which is led by Eugene Wamalwa, explaining that he wanted to align politically with his boss, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which is part of the broader broad-based formation.

However, recently Saboti MP Ayub Savula came out to throw cold water on Lusaka’s appointment, saying that he won’t make an impact in his newly gotten role and won’t deliver anything to Ruto.