President William Ruto’s visit to Bungoma on Friday, viewed as part of efforts to counter Edwin Sifuna’s growing influence in Western Kenya, unfolded without two of his most prominent political allies from the region—National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Ruto arrived in Bungoma to preside over the State Music Gala marking the culmination of the 98th Kenya Music Festival at the Bungoma State Lodge. He was accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, among other leaders.
However, the absence of Wetang’ula and Mudavadi during the launch of the construction of the 41-kilometre Bukembe-Nzoia Market-Mutomolo road stood out, particularly given their longstanding political influence in Western Kenya and their role in Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.
Their absence comes against the backdrop of heightened political activity in the region, with Sifuna, the Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary-General, recently stepping up grassroots engagements across Western Kenya.
Sifuna has been touring the region and mobilising residents through the Linda Mwananchi campaign, drawing sizeable crowds and reigniting debate over the political direction of Western Kenya ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Wetang’ula, the Ford Kenya leader and former Bungoma senator, has played a central role in mobilising support for Ruto in Bungoma and the wider Western Kenya region. His political influence in Bungoma has made him a key figure in the President’s efforts to consolidate support in the region.
Mudavadi, meanwhile, remains one of Ruto’s senior allies in government and has been actively defending the administration’s record while engaging communities in Western Kenya.
The absence of the two leaders from Ruto’s Bungoma visit therefore comes at a politically sensitive time, as Kenya Kwanza and opposition leaders intensify efforts to win over Western Kenya’s sizeable voting bloc ahead of 2027.
While their absence does not, on its own, point to a political disagreement with Ruto, it is likely to attract attention given the increasingly competitive political environment in the region.
With Sifuna expanding his grassroots presence and Ruto seeking to consolidate his administration’s support base, Friday’s Bungoma visit offered another indication of the growing political contest for influence in Western Kenya.
