National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has found himself at the centre of a political storm after appearing to throw his weight behind former Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha as Kenya Kwanza’s preferred candidate for the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial contest in 2027. The move has ignited a fierce internal debate within the ruling coalition, with some members accusing the Speaker of playing favourites ahead of next year’s elections.
The endorsement has not gone down well with UDA aspirants eyeing the same seat. Kakai Bisau and Chris Wamalwa — both vying for the UDA ticket in Trans Nzoia — have come out strongly against what they see as preferential treatment by the influential Speaker, accusing him of undermining fair competition within the coalition.
Bisau was blunt in his criticism, calling for the coalition to field candidates through open and competitive nominations. He argued that Trans Nzoia needs “brave and seasoned warriors” and insisted that all hopefuls deserve a level playing field, especially if Kenya Kwanza is to mount a credible challenge against incumbent Governor George Natembeya come 2027.
Wamalwa, who recently crossed the floor from Ford Kenya to UDA, echoed similar concerns. He insisted that the residents of Trans Nzoia — not party bigwigs — should have the final say on who leads their county. His remarks point to a growing unease within the coalition over top-down candidate selection ahead of next year’s election cycle.
Wetangula, however, was quick to distance himself from the accusations. The Speaker clarified that Nakhumicha had simply expressed her interest in the seat under the Ford Kenya banner, and that he had not handpicked her over anyone else. He extended an open invitation to other aspirants to join Ford Kenya, participate in its party nominations, and earn the ticket on merit — adding that he would back whoever emerges victorious from that process.
Endebess MP Robert Pukose sought to project a united front despite the internal wrangling, reaffirming Kenya Kwanza’s collective resolve to wrest the Trans Nzoia governorship from the current administration before the 2027 polls.
The row over Nakhumicha’s candidacy lays bare simmering tensions within the ruling coalition over how key seats will be decided ahead of 2027. As political heavyweights jostle for influence in Western Kenya, the question of whether nominations will be genuinely competitive or engineered from above looks set to remain a flashpoint in the months to come.
0 comments