Western Kenya has emerged as a battleground in the race to State House, with both President William Ruto and the opposition making an early push for the country’s second-largest voting bloc.
Holding 2.92 million registered voters across five counties, the region delivered President Ruto a crucial victory in Bungoma in 2022 that helped tip one of Kenya’s closest presidential contests.
President William Ruto addresses a gathering after attending the consecration and enthronement of Dr Vitalis Job Ekuru as the fourth Bishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya Diocese of Katakwa in Amagoro, Teso North Constituency, Busia County, on July 26, 2026
Photo credit: PCS
In that election, Dr Ruto scored an upset by winning Bungoma, polling 255,906 votes against Raila Odinga’s 145,280, a margin that proved crucial to his narrow presidential victory.
Just over a year before the 2027 General Election, the fight to win back or retain those votes is already underway.
That battle played out on Sunday as the Linda Mwananchi brigade, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, wrapped up a two-day political tour of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia while President Ruto simultaneously campaigned in neighbouring Busia, with each side laying claim to a region now viewed as pivotal to the 2027 presidential race.
Linda Mwananchi supporters in Bungoma Town during Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's homecoming rally on July 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
Opposition leaders used the Bungoma rally to intensify attacks on President Ruto’s administration while rallying behind Mr Sifuna, who is increasingly being presented by his allies as a potential presidential contender.
For Mr Sifuna, the homecoming was more than a political rally. It was a symbolic return to seek his community’s political blessing as he embarks on what he hopes will culminate in a State House bid.
His appeal also comes amid pressure from supporters urging him to remain in the presidential race and resist any attempts to shelve his ambitions in favour of another opposition candidate.
Mr Sifuna’s push has also been buoyed by a Tifa opinion poll, which places him among the fastest-rising opposition figures. From virtually no measurable support in 2025, he had climbed to 15 per cent nationally by June 2026. Within ODM, he commands 44 per cent support as the party’s preferred presidential candidate.
Addressing supporters on the second day of his Western Kenya tour, Mr Sifuna appealed to residents to remain steadfast behind him.
“Many people are saying you are merely hyping me. You have told me to go all the way to the ballot. Let me not turn back one day and find that you are no longer with me. I want you to stand with me so that I can face President Ruto head-on,” he said.
He said the Linda Mwananchi brigade had traversed much of the country and received assurances of support.
“I have assembled a strong team from the Coast, Mt Kenya, Nyanza, Western and other regions. Do you think we will lose this presidential election? God willing, in less than 12 months we shall have completed our march to State House,” he said.
Mr Sifuna portrayed himself as a politician whose rise was nurtured in Western Kenya before he climbed the national political ladder under the mentorship of the late Raila Odinga.
“I started my political journey here when I sought the Kanduyi parliamentary seat. The people told me to aim higher. Raila held my hand, and I became Nairobi Senator, ODM Secretary-General and Senate Minority Leader. Everything was taken away from me after Raila’s death, but I believe that in less than 12 months what was taken will be restored,” he said.
He declared that President Ruto would struggle to secure votes in Bungoma and several other regions, accusing local leaders allied to the President of misleading him about his popularity.
“There are people lying to President Ruto that he has support here. He has no votes in Bungoma. This journey has already begun,” he said.
Mr Sifuna appealed to residents to back his presidential bid just as they had supported him throughout his political journey, insisting the region owed him political backing after years of campaigning for Raila Odinga.
He was accompanied by Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi and former Cabinet minister Musikari Kombo, among other leaders.
Linda Mwananchi supporters in Bungoma Town during Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's homecoming rally on July 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
From as early as 9am, Bungoma Town was awash with supporters carrying banners and placards bearing Mr Sifuna’s image while singing Bukusu folk songs and the late Raila Odinga’s campaign anthems.
Supporters of various political aspirants from the region also displayed campaign posters featuring their preferred candidates alongside Mr Sifuna’s portrait, among them Tim Wanyonyi, who is seeking to succeed Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka.
The team began the day with a church service at St Immaculate Cathedral in Kitale before making stopovers in Kiminini, Sikhendu, Kamukuywa, Kimilili, Chwele and Kanduyi.
In a symbolic show of support, residents contributed between Sh50 and Sh1,000 towards his presidential campaign.
“It is better that I owe the people of Bungoma Sh10 each than owe one millionaire who will later demand tenders from me after I am elected,” Mr Sifuna said.
He promised to repay Kenyans by abolishing the Housing Levy, Fuel Levy and other taxes that he said had burdened households.
When Mr Sifuna’s convoy finally rolled into Bungoma Town at about 3.30pm, thousands of supporters erupted into song and dance.
Governor Natembeya said Western Kenya had repeatedly lost political opportunities because of divisions among its leaders and urged them to unite behind one presidential candidate.
“Our history has seen our leaders fight each other and we end up losing. People thought Sifuna and I would make the same mistake, but we sat down and agreed,” he said.
“I want to challenge my colleagues to be bold enough and say, ‘Sifuna Tosha’. We stood with Raila until the end. This time, I call upon our brothers from Nyanza to stand with the Mulembe nation and support Sifuna for the presidency,” he said.
The leaders also criticised Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka and Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, accusing them of exaggerating President Ruto’s popularity in the county.
Governor Natembeya vowed that an opposition government would abolish the Social Health Authority (SHA), the Housing Levy, the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and what he termed punitive taxation.
Mr Orengo declared that the opposition’s journey to State House had become irreversible, saying President Ruto could only retain power through electoral manipulation.
Mr Osotsi called for a new generation of leadership in Western Kenya, while Mr Babu Owino said the Linda Mwananchi movement had already toured 16 counties and intended to cover all 47 before the General Election.
He said the team would next head to Nyanza, Kisii, Central Kenya and Ukambani to engage opposition leaders, including former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka , in an effort to forge a united opposition front against President Ruto.
