Westlands Member of Parliament Tim Wanyonyi has clarified that he intends to run for the Bungoma gubernatorial seat in the upcoming 2027 General Election, rather than the Nairobi race, with which he has been heavily associated since the 2022 election.
Speaking during an interview with Radio 47 on Monday, July 7, the lawmaker asserted that serving people from his home county would be the perfect way to hang up his boots in the political arena.
“As Tim Wanyonyi, I’m ready to go and serve the people of Bungoma now. The stance is that in the next general elections, I will be vying for the Bungoma Gubernatorial seat,” Wanyonyi said.
Wanyonyi seems to have made the decision not to run for Nairobi's governorship. On May 21, 2024, the politician reaffirmed his plan to run for Nairobi County chief executive.
“I remember the last time I was running for the Governor of Nairobi and I even launched my campaign. I remember I was even endorsed by pastors and also residents, and they assured me that they would support me,” the MP said.
“But when I went ahead, there emerged some complications that led me not to be on the Governor’s ballot paper, but I want to assure people that this time I will make sure I complete that journey,” he said.
Timothy Wanyonyi, who was born in Mukwheya in Bungoma, was elected as Westlands Member of Parliament in 2013 and later re-elected in 2017 and 2022.
Wanyonyi’s statement comes a month after the Former Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) board chair and ex-Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera hinted at his intention to go head-on with the Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja in the upcoming polls.
Speaking during an interview on Monday, June 2, Nyakera claimed that he had joined forces with the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua by joining his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) so as to focus on Nairobi County politics.
However, when pressed to clarify whether he would be running for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat, Nyakera remained evasive, saying, ''I will discuss that later, but it is in Nairobi."
"In Nairobi, I believe that the party I can work with is the DCP. This is because it is a truthful party. Right now, we want the truth in Kenya—and for Nairobi. We also want development for Nairobians," Nyakera said.
Speculation over Nyakera’s political ambitions gained traction after meeting with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who thereafter appeared to endorse him for Nairobi’s top seat.
