Mudavadi
has given indications that he will dedicate more time to mobilising support in
the region for President William Ruto’s re-election bid, with Western Kenya's
significant voter numbers making it a crucial target for political parties and
presidential hopefuls.
The push
comes at a time when a political wave in support of Nairobi Senator Edwin
Sifuna is gaining momentum across Western Kenya, with some regional leaders
throwing their weight behind his Linda Mwananachi Movement.
Mudavadi,
who has traditionally been regarded as one of Western Kenya's most influential
political figures, has embarked on a grassroots revival strategy aimed at
reconnecting with voters and strengthening Kenya Kwanza's presence in the
region.
On July
10, Mudavadi declared that he was "back" as he launched a renewed
effort to reclaim lost political ground for the ruling coalition.
He
traversed parts of Western Kenya for four consecutive days, during which he
told residents he had returned to the grassroots to listen to their concerns,
engage them politically and advance the interests of the Kenya Kwanza
administration.
"I am
now back. From now henceforth, I am going to be on the ground with you so we
can listen to each other, play politics together and move forward in an
organised manner like brothers and sisters," Mudavadi said.
The Prime
CS explained that much of the past three years had been dedicated to his
government responsibilities, particularly his role as Cabinet Secretary for
Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, where he handled matters involving diplomacy,
trade, health, education, culture and the economy.
He said he
would now reduce his international engagements and focus more on consolidating
the Mulembe vote for Ruto ahead of 2027.
Mudavadi is
expected to hold a series of rallies across Western Kenya, where he will
highlight what he describes as Kenya Kwanza's achievements in the region, while
outlining the government's plans beyond the next election.
According
to sources familiar with his plans, the Prime CS is also preparing a
mobilisation campaign targeting members of the Mulembe community living outside
Western Kenya, particularly in Nairobi.
The
strategy includes a series of meetings across Nairobi's 17 constituencies to
encourage residents from Western Kenya to register as voters and support Ruto's
re-election campaign.
Mudavadi
said he would engage different clusters of the Mulembe community in Nairobi and
other parts of the country through strategic meetings, beginning with a
gathering in Westlands.
A key
message he intends to push is for voters who may not travel to their rural
homes during elections to register and vote from their current places of
residence.
He will
also urged young people across Western Kenya to register as voters and actively
participate in shaping the country's political future.
However,
Mudavadi faces a difficult challenge as he seeks to rebuild his influence in a
region where new political forces are emerging.
The growing
popularity of Sifuna has introduced a new contest for political control of
Western Kenya, with some leaders arguing that the region needs a fresh
generation of leaders.
Veteran
politician and former Westlands MP Fred Gumo has rallied Western Kenya behind
Sifuna, declaring that the political era of Mudavadi and National Assembly
Speaker Moses Wetang'ula is coming to an end.
"This
is Sifuna's time. Let us give him support. If people from other parts of the
country are supporting him, why can’t we the people from Western do the
same?" Gumo said.
He
challenged leaders who have dominated Western Kenya politics for years to
support younger leaders instead of pursuing future presidential ambitions.
"The
others who are fighting Sifuna, we gave them a chance. They are talking about
2032 yet age is catching up with them. It is like me at 80 saying I now want to
be President. They should support Sifuna or keep quiet," he said.
Political
analyst Joseph Mutua said Mudavadi's efforts to reclaim lost ground in Western
Kenya will not be an easy task, with Sifuna's rising profile creating a new
political dynamic in the region.
According
to the analyst, Sifuna's appeal among younger voters and his growing national
visibility could complicate Mudavadi's efforts to consolidate support for Kenya
Kwanza.
"Mudavadi
will need more than his long-standing political reputation to reconnect with
voters. Grassroots mobilisation, addressing local concerns and building a
strong political message will be critical," Mutua said.
