The race for the Trans Nzoia governor’s seat is widening, with County Assembly Speaker Andrew Mkhisa Wanyonyi becoming the sixth aspirant to declare his bid against incumbent George Natembeya.
Wanyonyi, a former MCA, announced his candidature, saying his experience as a grassroots leader and head of the county assembly has given him a clear understanding of the challenges facing residents.
“I believe I have the best capacity and ability to run the county, and I have a clear plan to transform the county if elected,” Wanyonyi said.
His bid has received the backing of DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, who publicly endorsed him at Friends Church Kitale last week.
The endorsement adds a new dimension to the contest, given Natembeya’s history with DAP-K.
Natembeya was elected governor on the party’s ticket in 2022 but later quit following differences with Wamalwa.
Natembeya has since teamed up with Senator Edwin Sifuna, and the two are expected to unveil a new political party in the next two weeks.
The governor has also stepped up his attacks on his growing list of opponents, accusing them of being sponsored by the government to confuse voters ahead of the 2027 election.
Natembeya recently claimed all five of his rivals were government-sponsored and funded to mislead residents into supporting one of them.
“The people of Trans Nzoia know very well that all those eyeing the governor’s seat now have been sent to confuse them. They can make noise all over, but none of them will be acceptable to the people of Trans Nzoia,” Natembeya said during a meeting in Kitale.
Wanyonyi’s entry follows that of prominent businesswoman Dorcas Njenga, who recently became the second woman to enter the race after former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
“I will be in the race to lead Trans Nzoia, and I have the full support of the Jubilee Party. I am ready and set to face my opponents at the ballot,” Njenga said.
Njenga has pledged to transform Trans Nzoia into an agro-industrial region if elected.
The other contenders include former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa and the current Kiminini MP Maurice Bisau. Wamalwa unsuccessfully challenged Natembeya for the governor’s seat in 2022.
With party primaries expected early next year, the aspirants have intensified their grassroots campaigns as they seek to build support ahead of the contest. Natembeya has already declared that he will defend his seat, saying he wants to complete projects initiated by his administration and pursue his vision of tackling poverty and disease in the county.
“We agreed with my brother Edwin Sifuna that he goes for the presidency as I take care of Trans Nzoia and western Kenya,” Natembeya said.
The growing field has also sharpened criticism of the governor, with his opponents accusing him of focusing on politics at the expense of development.
Natembeya has dismissed the criticism and, while speaking in Kiminini, urged Wamalwa to abandon his bid and work with him to develop the county.
The contest is expected to intensify as the aspirants seek to consolidate grassroots support ahead of party nominations and the 2027 General Election.
