Bumula Member of Parliament Jack Wamboka and former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati have intensified calls for leaders and residents of the Western region to unite behind Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s presidential bid, describing him as the most suitable candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at Bungoma Posta grounds on Friday, they said the Western region has for decades remained politically fragmented despite its numerical strength and should now rally behind one candidate to enhance its bargaining power and influence in national leadership.

Wamboka urged the Luhya community to back one of its own, insisting that regional unity would increase the chances of producing the country’s next president.

 “Let us support our own son Edwin Sifuna to the end. We are determined to ensure that he becomes the next President of Kenya. We therefore call upon the entire Western region to stand firmly behind his bid,” Wamboka said.

The legislator also assured supporters that security agencies had been informed of the planned Linda Mwananchi rallies scheduled for Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties this weekend dismissing reports that some individuals were planning to disrupt the meetings.

Wamboka noted that the organizers have worked closely with security officials to ensure the events are conducted peacefully.

 “We have formally notified the county security commanders about our planned rallies. We expect peaceful meetings where wananchi will freely listen to our agenda without intimidation,” he said.

Speaking at his Siaka home before the Bungoma rally, Senator Sifuna said the Linda Mwananchi movement was focused on offering Kenyans an alternative leadership agenda centred on improving livelihoods and restoring accountability in government.

The Nairobi Senator criticized President William Ruto’s administration, claiming it had failed to address the pressing needs of ordinary Kenyans despite making numerous promises during the 2022 election campaign.

 “Building affordable housing in villages like my Siaka village will not solve the problems our people are facing. What wananchi need is quality education for their children, accessible healthcare, clean water, employment opportunities and a better economy,” Sifuna said.

He maintained that the opposition would continue engaging citizens across the country through public rallies to popularize its agenda and mobilize support ahead of the next year’s elections.

Wamboka also dismissed National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s reported 2032 presidential ambitions, arguing that the Western region should instead focus on fielding a Luhya presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.

He argued that postponing the region’s presidential ambitions would only continue denying Western Kenya an opportunity to occupy the country’s highest office.

The DAP-K legislator further responded to criticism from a section of Kenya Kwanza leaders who have branded the Linda Mwananchi movement as a “wash wash” political outfit, saying those making such claims lack the moral authority to question the opposition.

“Some of the leaders attacking us have no moral authority to lecture the opposition. The issues surrounding corruption involving some of them are already in the public domain,” Wamboka claimed.

He expressed confidence that the Bungoma rally would attract a larger turnout than initially anticipated, revealing that organizers had already surpassed their original target.

“Initially, we had planned for about 50,000 people to attend the Bungoma rally, but the response has been overwhelming and more supporters have continued confirming their attendance,” he said, adding that they expect 100,000 people.

On his part, former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati urged residents to embrace political unity, arguing that the region’s development had been hampered by divisions among its leaders and political parties.

He challenged voters to rethink their political choices ahead of 2027 and support leaders whom he said would champion the interests of the Western region at the national level.

Wangamati also criticized the dominance of Ford Kenya politics in Bungoma, saying the county needed a new political direction that would unite rather than divide the region.