New feather for Lusaka as influence grows beyond western backyard

On Monday, October 12, the Council of Governors (CoG) elevated its Bungoma County governor Ken Lusaka to the position of vice-chair, in the process placing him on the national platform as the second most influential figure in the gubernatorial chiefs’ caucus.

Lusaka was elected to replace his Tharaka-Nithi counterpart Muthomi Njuki who was picked to head the powerful governors’ lobby.

Njuki took over from Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Mohammed.

Before Monday, Lusaka served as the CoG Agriculture Committee chairperson, a position that has now been taken by Governor Anne Waiguru of Kirinyaga.

With less than a year before he exits office after serving his second and last five-year term, Lusaka’s ascendance to the CoG’s second-in-command perch pushes him to the national pedestal where he now has to canvass and negotiate for devolution-related interests far beyond his county and Western regional backyard.

Lusaka is in no small measure, the man of the moment, attracting both respect and curiosity.

In ways more than one, 2026 has come with a galaxy of positives for Lusaka who turned 63-years-old only last month.

Three months ago, Lusaka was elected unopposed as the chairperson of the 14-member Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) to replace Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o whom he hitherto deputised.

Kisii Governor Simba Arati was picked as Lusaka’s vice-chairperson.

In his role at LREB, Lusaka is the political and strategic head of the lobby’s Summit, the bloc’s highest policy-making organ comprising 14 counties.

Between 2017 and 2022, Lusaka was the second Speaker of the Senate.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who hails from Lusaka’s Bungoma county where he himself served as Senator for two terms, was among the first prominent persons to congratulate the Governor upon his election as the CoG vice-chair.

Said Wetangula in his congratulatory message:

“Congratulations to Bungoma Governor H.E. Kenneth Lusaka on your election as the new Vice-Chairman of the CoG. This is a well-deserved recognition of your leadership, experience and dedication to devolution and the advancement of county governments. I am confident that your wealth of experience will be instrumental in strengthening inter-governmental relations, promoting collaboration among counties and improving service delivery to Kenyans.

Wishing you great success as you take on this new responsibility. May your tenure be marked by impactful leadership and meaningful progress in the spirit of devolution.
Hongera, Your Excellency!”

The responsibilities bestowed upon Lusaka by both CoG and LREB are only two of the other challenging tasks the Bungoma Governor has to grapple with as winds up his tour of duty at the helm of Bungoma County.

In February this year, President William Ruto appointed Lusaka to co-ordinate his re-election campaigns in Western Kenya.

In the presidential assignment, Lusaka is assisted by Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula as Vice-Chair.

Members of the Co-ordinating Team are Vihiga County Woman Representative Dr Beatrice Adagala, Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama , Teso South MP Mary Emaase, Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana, Kiminini MP Kakai Bissau and Hamisi MP Charles Gimose.

In that role, Lusaka and his team oversee the campaigns in the five counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia and Trans-Nzoia counties, all which at the moment account for 2.8 million registered voters.

Lusaka is no stranger to the emerging challenges. His being handed the role to co-ordinate Ruto’s re-election campaigns was not an ambush to. He has experience in the same..

Both in 2017 and 2022, he was appointed to spearhead his coalition’s campaigns in the counties under the former Western Province (Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Busia) plus Trans-Nzoia which lies in the former Rift Valley Province.

He contested the Bungoma governorship in 2013 on the ticket of the now defunct New Ford Kenya (NFK) party and won. His party supported the presidential candidature of current Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

In 2017, NFK wound up to support then President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election.

Though won his second term, Lusaka lost his. In 2022, Lusaka joined Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya party and recaptured the seat

After being voted out in 2017 and replaced by newcomer Wycliffe Wangamati, Lusaka was picked by Uhuru – through the efforts of Ruto – to serve as Speaker of the Senate for five years before going back to oust Wangamati from the gubernatorial saddle five years later.

Born on September 18, 1963, Lusaka is the born in a family of eight, with only five still surviving.

He was born to Mzee Nelson Lusaka, a retied educationist and Mama Rodah Namaemba Lusaka, a retired primary school headmistress and later a lay canon of the Anglican Church

The twin tasks at CoG and LREB will, in leaps and bounds, certainly define his next destination depending on the verdict of next year’s presidential election.

Lusaka’s double elevation significantly enhances his influence in both the regional and national outfits.