Bungoma Senator forced into reset mode as new, fiery entrant storms race

The race for the Bungoma Senatorial seat is getting hotter by day as more hopefuls hit the ground running in a vote-hunt ahead of the 2027 polls.

The latest entry in the race is businessman John Wanyama who has officially launched his campaign in a bid to familiarise himself with residents.

Wanyama says that he wants to challenge incumbent, Senator Wafula Wakoli, who was elected through a by election after the then Senator Moses Wetang’ula was elected as Speaker of National Assembly.

Wanyama has kicked-off his campaigns, focusing on assisting the needy especially, bright students who lack school fees and other essentials.

Wanyama has a strong online presence thanks to his savvy digital team, an advantage against his rivals.

His entry is eating into senator Wakoli’s perceived strongholds and influence.

He has also announced that he will be sponsoring 5 students from each ward yearly from his own pocket if elected Bungoma senator.

He has also been dishing out foodstuffs and building houses to widows in his campaign trail in a bid to woo the older generation to support his political bid.

The money factor has pushed the incumbent, Wafula Wakoli, out of the political equation. Wakoli also suffers from the incumbency curse and has helped new entrants to gain from it.

Wakoli is assured of the Ford-K ticket since none of his rivals has expressed interest to challenge him from within the party.

Another candidate is Jacob Machacha who came third in the last General Election.

He told this newspaper that he will go for a second stab but was elusive to share his current political party he will use.