CS Wamalwa keeps voters guessing

Devolution and Asal cabinet secretary, Eugene Wamalwa is officially out of the race for Trans Nzoia county gubernatorial race. Wamalwa said he would remain firm in rallying the Luhya community to be part of the next government, and asked the community to support Uhuru Kenyatta’s agenda for the unity of diversity.

“As your kingpin in the current government, I’m appealing to you to be very keen, not to be left out of the next government,” a supporter. Addressing residents of Namanjalala in Kwanza after launching food distribution exercise to flood victims, Wamalwa asked Luhya leaders to desist from following leaders for purposes of kickbacks and self-aggrandizement.

Chris Wamalwa

Wamalwa is allied to Uhuru Kenyatta’s wing and his statement, according to political analysts, is meant to demean William Ruto who is said to have been influencing western leaders with many goodies.

“Some leaders should go-slow, and stop following people because of money (mbekhu mbekhu). I’m waiting to tell you who will form the next government since a government is constituted a year to elections,” Wamalwa alluded.

The younger brother of former Kenya’s fifth vice president, Kijana Wamalwa, said the government is planning to construct dams in swampy areas and allocate and substitute it with another land elsewhere.

Maurice Bisau

Present were Devolution PS Micah Powon, area MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi, former lands assistant minister Bifwoli Wakoli, county speaker Joshua Werunga, Kwanza aspirant Nicholas Wamalwa and MCAs Alfred Weswa (Sirende ward), Emmanuel Waswa (Keiyo ward ) and Ben Mulipuko (Kapomboi ward).

Wakoli wondered why area residents were asking Wamalwa to vie for Trans Nzoia gubernatorial seat when there will be numerous national positions ahead in key government positions. “There will be the position of deputy president, prime minister and deputy prime minister in the next government. We should be planning on how Eugene will be clinching one of them,” said Wakoli.

Abraham Singo’ei

The attendees of the meeting interpreted that Bifwoli had communicated the message on behalf of the CS. But the statement contradicts a meeting that the CS held at Kitale’s Westside Hotel before going to Namanjalala meet. A source that spoke on condition of anonymity said Eugene held a meeting with among others former gubernatorial aspirant Andrew Wanyonyi and Matisi MCA Obed Mahanga where Wanyonyi shelved his ambitions to pave way for Eugene. If he vies for the gubernatorial position, Eugene is expected to face stiff competition from Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa who has already crisscrossed the county in a bid of preparing to take over from Governor Patrick Khaemba.

Janet Nangabo

Two weeks ago, Chris Wamalwa said he was ready to face any candidate and will use all means to succeed Khaemba. “I’m ready to face anybody, anytime and anywhere,” Chris declared. Several aspirants including two advisers in deputy president William Ruto’s office have declared interest in the seat to succeed Governor Khaemba. The duo – Maurice Bisau and Abraham Sing’oei – are battling to get the support from the DP Ruto. Others in the race are former finance CEC Andrew Wanyonyi, women MP Janet Nangabo, educationist Cosmas Nabungolo, Wanjala, finance CEC Boniface Wanyonyi and Stanley Kenei. MP Chris Wamalwa has in the recent opinion poll emerged as the winner and it is not a secret that the vocal legislator will succeed Khaemba after Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa indicated he will not vie in 2022.

Cosmas Nabungolo

In the senatorial race, Richard Chesebe, a close confidant of Endebbes MP Robert Pukose, will be giving the incumbent senator Michael Mbito a run for his money. Mbito who enjoyed the support of the DP before joining forces with other senators to kick out Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen from the position of Senate majority leader has been accused of betraying the DP at the real time of need. Pukose who’s a close confidant of the DP led professionals and Jubilee leaders in castigating the first-term senator for disrespecting of the DP. Trans Nzoia women MP, Janet Nangabo, who is also a close ally of the DP, may easily retain her seat if she decides not to take a stab at the coveted gubernatorial seat.