Wetang’ula mourns Chwele-Kabuchai MCA James Barasa
By Kiprono Keileb, August 4, 2025Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, is mourning the death of James Barasa Mukhongo, the longtime Member of County Assembly for Chwele-Kabuchai ward in Bungoma County, who passed away on Monday, August 4, 2025.
Wetang’ula, visibly shaken, took to his official X account on Monday, August 4, 2025, to share the news, describing Barasa’s death as a painful and unimaginable loss, not just to the people of Bungoma but to the entire country.
“It’s with great pain and unimaginable sadness and loss that I announce the passing on of my MCA Hon James Barasa Mukhongo of Chwele-Kabuchai ward,” Wetang’ula posted.
“Elected without a break for a record five terms, Barasa was Ch Fk Kabuchai. RIP Baba.” Wetangula added.
Towering political figure
Barasa, known to locals as “Baba,” had been a towering figure in grassroots politics, earning the trust of voters repeatedly in a competitive political landscape. His five consecutive election victories made him one of the longest-serving MCAs in the region, a rare feat in Kenya’s dynamic political scene.
Community members described him as a quiet force of leadership, deeply rooted in the values of service, humility, and consistency. Throughout his decades of public service, Barasa was a staunch advocate for development in education, agriculture, and healthcare, working to ensure that county resources reached even the most remote parts of the ward.
“Barasa was not just a politician; he was family to the people he served. He knew our names, our children’s schools, and our challenges. He stood with us in times of joy and sorrow,” he said
While the cause of his death had not been officially disclosed by the time of reporting, messages of condolence poured in from leaders across Bungoma and beyond, many highlighting Barasa’s calm but firm leadership, his accessibility to constituents, and his unwavering loyalty to his ward.
Governor Kenneth Lusaka called Barasa a symbol of political resilience:
“To be elected five times without interruption says everything about the man’s connection to the people,” he said
The MCA’s death comes at a time when the region was gearing up for mid-year community development audits. His absence, leaders say, will be deeply felt during these critical consultations.
Plans for his burial are expected to be announced soon by the family and county government, with residents already preparing for a large turnout to honour a man many referred to simply as “the people’s elder.”
As Bungoma mourns, Wetang’ula’s words continue to resonate as a tribute to both the man and the legacy he leaves behind: steady, grounded, and deeply loved.