Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi has officially declared his intention to contest for the Bungoma gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election, marking a major political shift just days after he accused his ODM party of betrayal in Nairobi politics.
Wanyonyi, a two-term MP and a long-serving member of the Orange Democratic Movement, said he had made the decision to take his leadership experience back to his home county of Bungoma. The move comes after simmering tensions between him and the ODM leadership over the partyโs handling of Nairobi politics, particularly the cityโs gubernatorial race.
โI have served Nairobi diligently, but itโs time to bring that same transformative leadership to Bungoma. I am ready to work with the people on the ground and build a county that reflects our hopes,โ Wanyonyi said during a meeting with supporters in Kanduyi on Sunday.
His announcement sets up a potentially heated political showdown with Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, a staunch ally of President William Ruto and a likely UDA flagbearer in the Bungoma race. Barasa, who has already started mobilizing support across the county, welcomed the competition but warned against โoutsiders parachuting into Bungoma politics.โ
Wanyonyi, however, dismissed such claims, saying his roots in the county run deep and his track record speaks for itself.
Political analysts see Wanyonyiโs move as a strategic gamble that could test ODMโs influence in Bungomaโa region increasingly leaning toward the Kenya Kwanza coalition. The defection could also deepen cracks within ODM, which has faced criticism over internal democracy and candidate selection.
If Wanyonyi runs on a non-ODM ticket, it could reshape the 2027 gubernatorial landscape in Bungoma, especially if other regional heavyweights like Senate Speaker Moses Wetangโulaโs Ford-Kenya party field a candidate.
The Bungoma governorโs seat is currently held by Kenneth Lusaka, who is yet to indicate whether he will seek re-election.
