Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has said he will give guidance on who should succeed him once his second and final term ends, but only when the time is right.
Speaking on Monday, December 22, 2025, during an interview with a local radio station in Western Kenya, Lusaka noted that discussions around his succession are still premature, with almost two years remaining before the 2027 General Election.
The governor stressed that the people of Bungoma will ultimately decide who leads them next, even as more politicians continue to declare interest in the seat.
“It is the citizens who will decide who they want to lead Bungoma. Right now, the race is still taking shape, and more leaders are emerging,” Lusaka said.
“By June next year, I will be in a better position to assess the candidates, look at their strengths, and give direction on who has the capacity to take Bungoma to the next level.”
Lusaka was re-elected in 2022 after defeating former governor Wycliffe Wangamati.
His victory came months after he stepped down as Senate Speaker following his loss in the previous election cycle.
Lusaka is allied to Ford Kenya, while Wangamati was backed by the Azimio coalition.
The race to succeed Lusaka has already attracted several high-profile names.
Among those seen as early frontrunners are businessman Zechariah Barasa, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, former governor Wycliffe Wangamati, and Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi.
Wanyonyi’s entry into the race in 2025 significantly shifted Bungoma’s political landscape after he received endorsements from a majority of MPs from the region.
His move sparked debate among local leaders, some of whom questioned his political roots in the county.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has downplayed Wanyonyi’s endorsements, dismissing him as an outsider imposed on Bungoma voters from Nairobi.
Barasa insisted that his bid is driven by ordinary citizens rather than political elites.
“The way wananchi have embraced my candidacy has put some leaders under pressure,” Barasa said.
“I am not anyone’s project. I am a project of the people of Bungoma.”
He further argued that no single individual’s interests should override the collective will of Bungoma residents, expressing confidence that voters would make the final decision based on their needs and priorities.
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