BUNGOMA – The political ground in Bungoma County appears to be shifting, and National Assembly Speaker Moses Masika Wetangula may be facing one of the toughest tests to his two-decade grip on the region’s politics.
According to a video circulating online, a group of Bungoma County Members of County Assembly (MCAs) elected on the Ford Kenya ticket have abandoned the party associated with Wetangula and joined the Linda Mwananchi movement, which is allied to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
The reported defection is a notable blow to the veteran politician, who has for the last twenty years been regarded as the kingpin of Bungoma politics.
During that time, Wetangula has played a decisive role in shaping who gets elected in the county and who is shown the door, making Ford Kenya the dominant political vehicle in the area.
Political observers say the move signals growing restlessness among local leaders, many of whom are seeking new alliances ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The control of Bungoma and the wider Western region bloc, long considered a stronghold for seasoned politicians, is becoming increasingly complicated as younger and more assertive leaders challenge the old order.
Sifuna, a vocal and popular figure whose influence has extended well beyond Nairobi, appears to be capitalizing on this shifting mood.
By attracting elected representatives from Wetangula’s backyard, he is sending a clear message that he is keen on expanding his political footprint into the Western region.
Analysts note that while the defections may not immediately dismantle Wetangula’s political machinery, they raise serious questions about his ability to keep his troops together.
Losing grassroots leaders, particularly MCAs who are close to the electorate, could weaken Ford Kenya’s structures in the county.
Neither Wetangula nor Ford Kenya officials had issued an official response at the time of publishing. It remains to be seen how the Speaker will counter the growing wave, and whether more leaders will follow in the coming weeks.
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