Senate Speaker, Kenneth Lusaka, has joined Deputy President William Ruto's led political faction, Kenya Kwanza, after months of speculation over his political future.
While attending a political rally with leaders allied to the DP in Bungoma County on Friday, March 11, the Senate Speaker officially announced that he would contest for the Bungoma Gubernatorial seat through the alliance.
The ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose candidature for the Speaker's position was sponsored by the Jubilee Party, stated that he had decided to join Bungoma politics after 5 years.
He popularised the bottom-up economic model promising to bring similar initiatives back to the county.
"When I was the governor, we had an initiative known as the trade loan that was meant to help small businesses that are in the county. When I get back I will ensure that we bring it back," he stated.
While it is not clear which party he will use to contest in the August 9 polls, reports indicate that he will join Moses Wetangula's, Ford Kenya party officially in the coming weeks.
The two had a bitter rivalry in 2017 as Wetangula supported the current Bungoma Governor, Wycliffe Wangamati, who won in the 2017 gubernatorial race.
On his part, Wetangula stated that the defection of Lusaka was welcome stating that they were better placed to clinch more seats in the Western region.
"We have come with good news for the people of Bungoma as we have we have brought you your son who is Kenneth Lusaka," he stated.
Kenya Kwanza allied leaders have been engaged in vigorous campaigns in Western Kenya as they seek to solidify their base from parties allied to the Azimio La Umoja.
The Ruto-led faction was also boosted as Kisii Deputy Governor, Joash Maangi, decamped back to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
He was received by the DP together with other leaders at DP's official residence in Karen, Nairobi County.
In December 2021, Maangi decamped to ODM after being Ruto's point man during the second term of the Jubilee administration. At the time, he stated that ODM was more popular in the Gusii region and that UDA would not be the best political outfit for his ambitions.
“I have always been in ODM. You know what it means to be in ODM party in the Kisii region,” he stated.
