Waluke tells Didmus Barasa to stop branding Tim Wanyonyi as ‘dynasty’
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 2, 2025Sirisia Member of Parliament (MP) John Waluke has warned his Kimilili counterpart Didimus Barasa against branding Bungoma gubernatorial hopeful Tim Wanyonyi as coming from a family of dynasties.
Waluke, who in the recent past has been taking Tim Wanyonyi around Bungoma popularising his bid, while speaking in Kabuchai on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, told off the Kimilili legislator, warning him against pushing that narrative.
According to Waluke, nobody chooses where to be born, and despite Tim Wanyonyi being a member of the Wetangula family, which has produced the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, he also deserves to be elected just like any other person.
He went ahead to draw parallels with the Odinga family, where, after Jaramogi was in leadership, his children have also had a chance to lead despite their father’s background in politics. Waluke said that does not stop anyone with political ambition from contesting for office simply because he or she comes from a political family.
“Mambo ya kusema amezaliwa kwa familia ya Dominic ni ukweli, lakini sisi tunataka Tim; kuzaliwa ni sawa, na haijalishi, angalia kina Odinga, and this narrative is only in Bungoma and was brought by Didmus Barasa.”
Waluke further urged Barasa to shelve his gubernatorial ambitions and instead defend his parliamentary seat or risk losing in the Bungoma governor’s race.
Threats to ditch FORD-K
Speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Barasa expressed disappointment with the way he is currently being treated by the Ford Kenya party.
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He noted that after being elected to Parliament in 2022 on a UDA ticket, he later ditched the party for Ford Kenya, a move that was well received at the time.
According to him, he has since embraced the party fully. However, following the announcement by Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi of his return to Bungoma politics and his declaration of interest in the gubernatorial race, Barasa claims the party has sidelined him. He added that members who once cherished him and supported his ambition now appear unwilling to back him.
“Honestly speaking, I have been in Ford Kenya, but they don’t want me; the party leaders have refused to support me; they have ditched me, and all have decided to throw their weight behind Tim Wanyonyi. Instead of cherishing me for having joined the party earlier, they have gone out to cherish another person,” he said.