A section of Members of Parliament from Western Kenya have declared their support for President William Ruto’s re-election bid, but also demanded that the position of the Deputy President be reserved for the region during 2027general elections.
The MPs, led by the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, made the declaration after a daylong meeting held at a Kisumu hotel on Monday.
Reading a joint press statement on behalf of the legislators, Member of Parliament for Budalangi, Raphael Wanjala said the MPs had unanimously agreed to work as a united bloc to campaign for the re-election of President Ruto.
“As the Western community, we demand the Number Two Seat to deputize President William Samoei Ruto in the next General Election,” Wanjala stated.
Wanjala said the MPs would continue championing issues affecting residents of Western Kenya and called for greater consideration of the region in the next administration.
On development, the legislators called on the Government to ensure completion of all stalled projects in the region, saying this would help address some of the challenges facing residents.
The legislators who also come from the sugar belt called for Government’s intervention in the sugar sector, while maintaining their opposition to the Crops Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Crops Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 is a National Assembly Bill introduced by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.
It seeks to amend three pieces of legislation: the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Act, the Tea Act and the Sugar Act. The Bill was published in June 2026 and subsequently went through the parliamentary process, including public participation.
The Bill proposed removal of agricultural lending functions from sector-specific State agencies and centralize the lending under the proposed Kenya Agribusiness Development Corporation (KADCO) Ltd.
The agencies affected include the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), Tea Board of Kenya and Kenya Sugar Board.
The Bill is particularly significant to Western Kenya because of its implications for the sugar industry, which supports thousands of farmers and other players across the sugar value chain.
The proposed amendments affecting the Sugar Act have raised questions about the future role of the Kenya Sugar Board in providing financial and other support to the sector.
Wanjala said the MPs had rejected the Bill and called for stronger Government intervention to address challenges facing the sugar industry, including support for farmers and completion of interventions aimed at reviving the sector.
The MPs however commended President Ruto for addressing taxation issues affecting hawkers but urged the Government to extend similar consideration to other workers affected by taxation.
“While we commend President William Ruto for addressing taxation issues affecting hawkers, but we urge the Government to extend similar consideration to other workers who are affected by taxation,” Wanjala said.
On education, the legislators urged the Government to address what they termed a funding crisis in public varsities, which they said had particularly affected students from poor families as fresh and continuing students begin a new academic year this month.
They further called for coordinated voter registration and mobilisation campaigns in the region, to be led by Members of Parliament.
The MPs also appealed to the Ministry of Energy to expand electricity coverage to areas that remain without power and address persistent power outages in Western Kenya in a bid to spur up development.
The MPs said their support for President Ruto in the 2027 General Election was part of a broader strategy to position Western Kenya for greater political influence, saying the region was preparing to succeed him after 2032 and would seek to produce the country’s next President as a united bloc.
They, however, said they had not settled on a specific individual to champion the region’s presidential bid, noting that Western Kenya had many capable leaders who could take up the mantle.
MP for Sirisia, John Waluke, and Chairman of the Western Kenya MPs’ Caucus, said the Mulembe community was united and speaking for the people in the 38 constituencies represented at the meeting.
“The Mulembe community is united, and as you see us here, we are speaking for the people, the community, in the 38 constituencies represented here. That is to say, the people in the constituencies are talking, the five counties are talking, so we are united, and we are going to make sure that President William Ruto is going to win, and we are pushing for the win,” Waluke reiterated.
This team of political leaders from Mulembe Nation is, however, facing stiff competition as they seek to canvass for votes from the populous Nation for President Ruto`s re-election bid.
On the other side of the political divide in the region is a team of youthful politicians led by Nairobi Senator, Edwin Watenya Sifuna and Trans Nzoia Governor, George Natembeya, who are enjoying support of a large section of the Mulembe nation as President Ruto seeks 2027 re-election.
By Mabel Keya- Shikuku and Dorothy Pamella
