Western leaders rubbish Uhuru, rally behind Ruto

Pro-Ruto Western leaders led by Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka have intensified their grassroots mobilisation for President William Ruto’s 2027 re-election, urging retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to respect the presidency and stop what they allege is an attempt to undermine the administration.

The leaders, operating under the Western Two-Term Brigade, accused Kenyatta of allegedly backing the Linda Mwananchi faction to weaken the Ruto administration and derail its development agenda, arguing that the former President should accord Ruto the same political space he enjoyed to complete his two terms.

Lusaka, who is President Ruto’s Western Kenya 2027 re-election coordinator, made the remarks while leading the Western coordination team at a UDA grassroots delegates engagement forum in Trans Nzoia, where the leaders linked political consolidation to development and the region’s bargaining power.

“President Ruto deserves ample time to complete his transformative development agenda. Unnecessary political interference will only derail development and deny Kenyans the full benefits of the Government’s programmes,” Lusaka said.

He urged Kenyatta to uphold the dignity of a retired President and allow the current administration to focus on delivering its development commitments, recalling that Ruto supported Kenyatta throughout his second term.

Lusaka said the Ruto administration had, within four years, expanded development interventions across Western Kenya and other parts of the country, citing roads, markets, health infrastructure and other projects as evidence of what he termed equitable development.

He highlighted the ongoing tarmacking of the Turbo-Sikhendu Road, saying the strategic link would connect Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia, improve transport and stimulate economic activity across the region.

The Governor also warned against efforts to divide the Mulembe Nation, saying Western Kenya was consolidating its political numbers behind Ruto to strengthen its bargaining position for national resources and development.

“Western Kenya is strategically consolidating its numbers. We must unite, register as voters and use our numbers to secure a stronger voice in the national Government and greater development opportunities,” Lusaka said.

He specifically appealed to Trans Nzoia residents not to remain in the opposition, urging them to align with the Government and benefit from development programmes being implemented across the region.

Lusaka argued that Ruto had defeated the political status quo in 2022 and would be difficult to dislodge in 2027 if the administration continued demonstrating tangible development results.

Kakamega Deputy Governor and Western Presidential Re-election Deputy Coordinator Ayub Savula echoed Lusaka’s position, challenging UDA grassroots delegates to intensify mobilisation and deliver a decisive victory for Ruto in 2027.

Savula accused Kenyatta of allegedly undermining Ruto’s leadership through the Linda Mwananchi faction and urged the former President to withdraw from active political contestation and respect the status of a retired Head of State.

He also accused DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua of allegedly sponsoring disruptive elements ahead of the 2027 elections, calling on political leaders to safeguard peace and stability.

Sirisia MP and Western Parliamentary Caucus Chairperson John Waluke said the Mulembe Nation had endured marginalisation under previous administrations and that the region now had an opportunity to leverage its political numbers for development.

Waluke urged Western Kenya to unite, consolidate its vote and speak with one political voice, while calling on Ruto to strategically prepare the region for the 2032 succession by mentoring a Luhya leader for the presidency.

He further urged Kenyatta to desist from what he described as efforts to interfere with Ruto’s development agenda, saying the President had supported Kenyatta to complete his second term.

Kiminini MP and Trans Nzoia coordinator Kakai Bisau, who hosted the forum, said UDA was deepening its grassroots structures in the county while using the administration’s development record to consolidate support for Ruto.

Bisau cited ongoing road projects, modern markets and other infrastructure initiatives, arguing that Trans Nzoia was receiving renewed development attention under the Ruto administration after years of what he termed marginalisation.

Teso South MP and Busia coordinator Mary Emase called for intensified grassroots mobilisation and voter registration, urging delegates to use the Government’s development record as the basis for securing support for Ruto’s second-term bid.

Shinyalu MP and Kakamega coordinator Fred Ikana similarly urged Trans Nzoia residents to reject what he termed opposition rhetoric and strengthen UDA grassroots structures ahead of the 2027 polls.

The Trans Nzoia forum underscored the growing strategy by the Western coordination team to translate grassroots mobilisation into electoral support, with leaders placing development, voter registration and regional unity at the centre of their campaign for Ruto’s re-election.

The leaders maintained that a politically united Western Kenya would strengthen Ruto’s 2027 prospects while giving the region greater leverage to negotiate for development and a stronger role in the country’s political succession.