President William Ruto has received a political boost in Western Kenya after Titus Khamala defected from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Ruto has been seeking to strengthen his foothold in the populous Western Kenya region, traditionally considered a stronghold of ODM and other regional parties such as Ford-Kenya and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).
Political Shifts in Western Kenya
The region has recently witnessed significant political shifts, particularly following recent by-elections where UDA reportedly secured a large share of the vote. Analysts say these outcomes have weakened the influence of some regional parties.
DAP-K, associated with George Natembeya, has reportedly struggled to expand its influence beyond its strongholds. Meanwhile, Ford-Kenya, led by Moses Wetang’ula, has faced internal challenges, including claims of dissatisfaction among some party officials.
Reports have also suggested that Kenneth Lusaka, Wetang’ula’s deputy in the party, could be considering a political shift, although no official confirmation has been made. Lusaka has been appointed by Ruto as a lead coordinator for his re-election campaign in Western Kenya.
Kakamega Politics and Internal Rivalries
Political tensions are also evident in Kakamega County, where Governor Fernandes Barasa, who doubles as the ODM county chairman, is facing internal challenges. His deputy, Ayub Savula, has announced plans to challenge him for the gubernatorial seat in the next election on a UDA ticket.
Savula, who is also part of the team coordinating Ruto’s re-election campaign in the region, recently led the group that officially welcomed Khamala into UDA.
Khamala Explains His Decision
Confirming his defection, Khamala said he decided to join UDA after concluding that the party offers the best chance for political influence and development in the region.
The Lurambi legislator won his parliamentary seat in the last election with 32,309 votes out of 89,535 registered voters, according to
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) figures. His closest rival, Timothy Vikiru, received 9,342 votes.
Khamala told his supporters that he previously took a political gamble that placed them in the opposition but said he now intends to align with the government to improve development prospects for his constituents.
“In the last elections we gambled and found ourselves in the opposition. This time I will lead you to government,” he said.
The move is expected to intensify political competition in Western Kenya as parties reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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