Jitters in Western as leaders shift to early campaigns for 2027 race

Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has been at loggerheads with Arthur Osiya, the Principal Administrative Secretary at the Executive Office of the President who has declared interest in the governorship. [File, Standard]

The fate of development projects in Western is hanging on a thread as state officials and elected leaders shift attention to early campaigns.

Incumbents keen on defending their seats have accused state officials eyeing political seats of allegedly hawking government projects to market their own credentials.

For a region caught in the eye of Kenya Kwanza's supremacy storm in a bid to control the vote-rich base, the 2027 elections and succession debates have become an open secret.

Nationally, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya is leading an onslaught against President William Ruto's allies even as he allege a plot to have him impeached.

He is driving a push to unite the region and prepare for the 2027 General Election. His push, however, has heightened political activities in the region.

In Busia County, Governor Paul Otuoma has been at loggerheads with Arthur Osiya, the Principal Administrative Secretary (PAS) at the Executive Office of the President who has declared interest in the governor seat.

Governor Otuoma has accused Mr Osiya of using the President's office to undermine his leadership claiming he has abandoned his role in helping the President and resorted to politics.

“Busia is not a retirement home for some people supposed to do their work as assigned by the President who is their boss. I will not allow people to undermine my leadership when I was elected to serve people of Busia for five years. We will not allow people to divide and incite residents along tribal lines because of politics,” said Otuoma.

He termed Osiya as a retiree who has nothing to offer to people of Busia while warning Busia County Commissioner Mwachaunga Chaunga against involving in local politics.

“We will not allow leaders to be used to divide our people, I want to tell our county commissioner to decide whether he wants to be a sycophant of Osiya or stick to his work as a government employee because when things get worse, he will find himself in an awkward position and alone,” said Otuoma.

Osiya has kicked off plans to be the next governor, stating that he is traversing the county to identify the gaps and weaknesses to be corrected ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I am traversing our county to see where we have some gaps and areas that need improvement so that we can fix these problems come 2027 and I am only going for governor seat. When the right time comes, I will talk to my people,” said Osiya.

In Bungoma County, former Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, who was appointed to chair the Public Service Superannuation Fund Board of Trustees for three years, has also been on the ground campaigning for the seat after serving for one term. He hopes to succeed Governor Ken Lusaka, who is serving his second and last term.

According to the 2010 Constitution under the Public Officer Ethics Act Section 12 (1 and 3), sections 13 and 16 require public officers not to use their positions to further personal and political interests. They are prohibited from using state resources including vehicles for political reasons.

Similarly, in Kakamega, those at loggerheads with sitting leaders are Joel Wamalwa, the Chief Executive Officer for Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency (LVNWWDA) who has declared his interest in Likuyani parliamentary seat against the incumbent and ODM MP Innocent Mugabe.

Joel Wamalwa, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency.[Benard Lusigi, Standard]

However, a section of Likuyani residents are up in arms against Wamalwa alleging that he is using government projects to campaign.

“It is unfortunate we are already in a campaign season yet residents wants services,” said Patrick Anami, a resident of Likuyani Constituency.

Efforts to reach out to Mr Wamalwa for comment were futile as he was unreachable and did not respond to calls and text messages.

Tom Musungu, the agency’s Communication Manager, disputed any talk of his boss contesting the seat, stating that he is only doing his job.

“LVNWWDA is the brainchild behind the project and it was handed over to NRWWDA for implementation. On the issue of eyeing the MP seat, the CEO is not interested, he is only doing his work and representing the government,” said Musungu.

In the region, those eyeing MCA seats have also thrust themselves into early campaigns even as development lags behind.