Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has dismissed opposition claims that he has abandoned President William Ruto’s camp, declaring that he remains firmly committed to the President’s 2027 re-election bid.

Lusaka, who serves as President Ruto’s Western Region Re-election Coordinator, described the claims as political propaganda, urging those spreading the narrative to stop “dreaming” and focus on the issues that matter to voters.

“Stop dreaming. I am with President Ruto to the ballot,” Lusaka said, reaffirming his commitment to coordinating grassroots mobilisation across Western Kenya in support of the President’s re-election.

He said every leader from the Mulembe Nation has a democratic right to pursue the presidency, but dismissed suggestions that the emergence of alternative political formations had altered his position in the Ruto camp.

Lusaka said he could not abandon what he termed a working government whose development programmes were transforming the country, arguing that the President’s record in agriculture, infrastructure, food security and other sectors provided a strong basis for seeking a second term.

He cited the reduction of fertiliser prices from Sh7,500 to Sh2,000, investments in agriculture and food security, and the construction of modern sporting facilities as some of the initiatives he said demonstrated the administration’s development record.

The Governor also challenged the opposition to present a compelling development agenda, arguing that political rhetoric without a clear plan for improving citizens’ lives would not defeat the President’s development-focused campaign.

“As a coordination team, we are going to every grassroots in Western Kenya to mobilise our people behind President Ruto’s re-election, anchored on development,” he said.

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula said Western Kenya’s political support was shifting towards President Ruto following the death of former opposition leader Raila Odinga, whom he said the region had previously supported.

Savula cited the revival of the sugar sector, including operations at Nzoia and Mumias sugar factories, as evidence of the administration’s development commitment to the region. He challenged the opposition to demonstrate how it would deliver comparable development.

He also cautioned the youth against being exploited for political violence ahead of the 2027 elections, calling for peaceful political engagement and an end to political goonism.

Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau rallied support for President Ruto, saying Western Kenya would benefit by maintaining a working relationship with the national government to unlock development in roads, infrastructure, education and other sectors.

Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana similarly attributed ongoing development projects in his constituency to the region’s working relationship with the Kenya Kwanza administration. He cited investments in roads and infrastructure as evidence of the benefits of cooperation with the national government.

Ikana called for political tolerance and peaceful competition ahead of the 2027 elections, urging investigative agencies to pursue individuals accused of financing political violence.

The leaders spoke in Shinyalu Constituency, Kakamega County, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of modern storey classrooms at Handidi Primary School, where they also intensified grassroots mobilisation for President Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.