Bungoma race: It's a Lusaka and Wangamati rematch

The Bungoma governor race is shaping up to be a battle between incumbent Wycliffe Wangamati and his predecessor Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka.

The two fought fiercely in 2017, with Wangamati emerging victorious on the back of the support of Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula. 

Wangamati and Wetang'ula have since fallen out and the Ford Kenya boss is expected to back Lusaka.

Wetang'ula and Wangamati's political bonds were broken when the governor supported a faction of Ford Kenya that sought to remove the party leader. 

“I am sorry to have brought to you this young man Wangamati, who has let down our county and party. We are going to front Lusaka for the governorship to come and liberate our people,” Wetang’ula said recently.

Wangamati had promised to tame corruption in the county but his regime has also faced numerous graft allegations.

The failed promises are the ammunition Lusaka is using to launch a comeback for the seat. 

“We have had pressure from the grassroots that we come back, we shall be glad serving our people and taking Bungoma to what our vision was,” Lusaka said.

The Speaker enjoys the support of the Jubilee Party and the backing of Wetang'ula will give him much confidence. 

Lusaka points at his building of the Misikhu Brigadier and other tarmac roads within the urban centres; the free and subsided fertiliser programme; the soil testing kits; over 500 free dairy cattle for groups and modern equipment for the health facilities as his achievements. 

Many Wangamati supporters said he did not implement his manifesto.

He did not provide the free NHIF cover for the elderly, waive fees for mama mboga and boda boda and give 40 per cent contracts to youths.

Wangamati cites flagship projects that include the Kanduyi stadia, the multimillion pediatric facility and his scholarship project.

"The good thing is that this time the electorates have our five years and his five years to compare themselves unlike last time when we were coming from nowhere,” Wangamati said. 

The governor is confident that he will trounce all the aspirants because of his track record.

The race has also attracted Sophy Waliaula, Dr Peter Khakina and Zacharia Baraza.

Waliaula, a lecturer at Kibabii University, has been a part of the United Democratic Alliance party's activities. 

She says she has the vision required to steer Bungoma to prosperity.

“Nobody should view me just like a woman but the vision I bring to the people of Bungoma. In fact, it is a high time the seat goes to a woman who will bring all our communities together and end the high tempered kind of politics always witnessed in Bungoma" she said.

Waliaula comes from Kimilili constituency where Lusaka also hails from.

Khakina, another Kibabii University lecturer, is a former member of the County Public Service Board. 

He says he has all it takes to lead the county. 

"I have been in public service for long with a track record and I have what it takes to steer this county far," Khakina said.

He contested for the Webuye East parliamentary seat in 2017 on the ODM ticket but lost to Alfred Sambu.

The latest entrant is Nairobi businessman Zachariah Baraza.

The political activist said that both previous and current governors had failed voters.

He blames Lusaka and Wangamati for failing to fulfil what they pledged to their electorates.

 "You need to elect a leader who will not squander public resources; a leader who is development conscious. Some of those who are in leadership are a total disgrace to voters," he said.

He has called on residents to elect a governor who will help them realise the value of their money.

"If elected I will ensure that all the monies meant for development go towards the same so that we can wipe out poverty amidst us, the money is meant to launch different development projects and will do so," he said.