Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has publicly severed his political ties with National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, accusing the FORD-Kenya leader of divided loyalty and of shielding his brother, Tim Wanyonyi, in the race for Bungoma governor.
In a statement on his official Facebook page, Barasa, who is competing against Wanyonyi for the seat, said he was withdrawing support from Wetang’ula’s “current political direction” and aligning with what he called “the popular view” that the veteran politician should retire from Bungoma politics “after more than three decades at the helm.”
At the center of his complaint is a perceived double game. He alleged that Wetang’ula is “tacitly supporting his brother” and the opposition formation Wanyonyi is aligned with, while publicly standing with President William Ruto nationally.
“One cannot simultaneously serve two antagonistic political vectors,” Barasa said, calling it “a serious conflict of interest and a case of dual political allegiance.”
Barasa insisted the move was not personal. “It is a principled act of political realignment, undertaken to safeguard the unity, stability, and long-term political trajectory of our people,” he said.
He also claimed that Wanyonyi “controls the FORD-Kenya grassroots infrastructure,” leaving the party leader “structurally conflicted.”
Barasa stressed that he and Wetang’ula remain united behind Ruto and the Broad-Based Government but differ sharply at home. “We concur on the national trajectory of Kenya, but we diverge on the governance paradigm for Bungoma,” he said.
He further accused Wetang’ula of mismanaging the 30 percent allocation under the party’s MOU, alleging it was distributed “predominantly to his close family members.” He also said Wetang’ula favors endorsing a preferred successor, which he called “antithetical” to his own philosophy.
“Bungoma is not a monarchy,” Barasa declared. “It is a democracy premised on merit, competition, and the sovereign will of the people, not hereditary succession.”
Barasa said he will now vie for governor on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket and build grassroots structures. He will also court local parties and FORD-Kenya members who, in his words, share the view that “the door to hereditary leadership should be permanently shut.”
“Today, I sleep a free man,” he said.
