Iteso community endorse Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa for governor seat

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa addressing the Iteso community at Namboani Primary School during his coronation as Iteso elder and best candidate. /HANDOUT

Leaders and elders from the Iteso community in Bungoma County have thrown their weight behind Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, endorsing him as their preferred candidate for the gubernatorial seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during the coronation by the council of Iteso elders in Kimilili, Joseck Okisai, chairman of the Iteso Supreme Council of Elders in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties, described Barasa as a development-orientated and accessible leader, citing his track record in Kimilili Constituency and his commitment to uplifting grassroots communities across Bungoma.

“Today I have led the whole Iteso community to come here and endorse Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa as our preferred candidate for the governor’s seat in the next general elections,” he stated.

Further, he noted that the Iteso community has consistently upheld a culture of peaceful political engagement, emphasising dialogue and unity even during election periods.

He explained that the community’s decision to back Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa was informed by what they described as his clear vision for Bungoma County and his track record in championing development at the grassroots.

Okisai said that Barasa has demonstrated the kind of transformative leadership they believe can address long-standing challenges affecting the community. He revealed that the community has already entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the lawmaker, outlining key priority areas they expect to be addressed should he be elected governor.

“Among the agreements made between the MP and the Iteso is the inclusion of their people in the county government,” he said, adding that once the official campaign period commences, they would take the lead in rallying community support for MP Barasa.

However, Okisai reported that since the start of devolution, the community has been sidelined in terms of development and appointments to the county government, despite being the second-largest community in the county with over 100,000 people after the Bukusu.

“We have had more than two county government administrations in Bungoma, but I can confidently state that our community has not benefited much. That is why we need someone like Didmus Barasa to go and champion our rights and include our people in the county government,” he stated.

He admitted that the MoU between the Iteso community and the MP seeks to increase the number of people from the community in the county government.

Priscah Odera, an elder, said that Barasa is a popular politician in the county with a clear track record, adding that this is the reason Iteso women have chosen him.

“Didmus is our own son and elder now after endorsement. He is someone we have watched grow, and we will rally other communities in Bungoma to elect him as governor come 2027,” she said.

Moreover, Odera praised the MP for constructing a modern Huduma Centre in Kimilili Constituency that will go a long way in serving residents who previously had to travel to Bungoma town and neighbouring counties for essential government services.

“Before we made a bold decision to back Didmus, we did research and found that he is the best bet to replace the outgoing governor, Kenneth Lusaka,” she said.

Previously, the MP has received massive backing from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Sabaot community, church leaders, and Bungoma County Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers.

The Iteso community is distributed across the entire Bungoma County.

In his address following the coronation ceremony, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa welcomed the endorsement by the Iteso community, affirming his readiness to work closely with elders to ensure the full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) once elected governor.

“There are issues we have agreed upon with the Iteso elders, and I want to assure them that I will implement all of them when I ascend to the county’s top seat,” Barasa said.

The lawmaker also revealed that the coronation ceremony had initially been planned for Sirisia but alleged that political interference led to divisions within the community, accusing Sirisia MP John Waluke of attempting to derail the event by sowing discord among Iteso elders.

“This coronation was scheduled to take place in Sirisia, but because Waluke was opposed to my bid, he tried to create divisions among the Iteso elders. However, I stepped in to unite them, and the event has been held successfully in Kimilili Constituency,” he added.

Waluke is backing Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi for the Bungoma gubernatorial seat, setting the stage for a competitive political contest ahead of the 2027 elections.

Barasa further pledged to promote inclusivity in his administration if elected governor, stating that he would appoint County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) and Chief Officers from all major communities in Bungoma—Bukusu, Sabaot, Batura, Iteso, and Tachoni—to ensure equitable representation and effective delivery of development across the county.