DAP-K Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa has revealed that the late former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo was committed to ensuring Western Kenya fields a presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Saturday, January 3, 2026, Wamalwa disclosed that he and Jirongo had been planning the 2027 presidential strategy for only two months before the veteran politician’s untimely death.

“Just two months ago, we had started planning the 2027 journey, and it was very clear that Western will have a presidential candidate come 2027,” Wamalwa stated.

Unity among Western parties

The DAP-K leader revealed that Jirongo had committed to uniting Western Kenya political parties behind a single presidential candidate despite having his own United Democratic Party (UDP).

“When Jirongo left you as your MP in Lugari, he had also decided the same thing because he had said he has a party called UDP, but we must come together with our parties and produce one candidate,” Wamalwa said.

Wamalwa disclosed that Jirongo had backed him during political events in Malava, providing financial support for the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in the constituency.

“Cyrus supported us here in Malava, he gave money to support DAP here in Malava, and we had agreed that in 2027, we are going to unite and field a presidential candidate,” he stated.

2027 presidential candidate debate

The conversation around a Luhya presidential candidate comes amid mixed opinions in the region.

Speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has stated that no leader from the Western Kenya region currently has the capacity to vie for the presidency in 2027.

Barasa urged leaders from the region to rally behind President William Ruto’s reelection campaign rather than pursue the presidency themselves.

“No leader from the West has the capacity to vie for the presidency in 2027. If we want to ever rule the country, we must first make friends, and the first allies that we should have are the Rift Valley region, who are in power now. We should support President Ruto to finish his term, and he will support us in 2032,” Barasa stated.