Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has announced his intention to leave President William Ruto’s UDA party and join Ford Kenya.
Barasa, who has announced that he will run for the Bungoma gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election, said it will be an uphill task for him to win the seat if he vies on the ruling UDA ticket.
The youthful legislator said he has analyzed the Bungoma political landscape and has realized how well-prepared Ford Kenya Party leader Moses Wetang’ula is to have the majority of the MCAs elected on his party.
As such, Barasa said that the Ford Kenya party has many members and that it will be difficult for him to lead the county without a majority of the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
“Vile nimakaa chini na nikapima, wawakilishi wadi wengi katika bunge la kaunti ya Bungoma ni wa chama ya Ford Kenya… Na vile papa wa Roma amejipanga 2027, pia wajumbe wa Ford Kenya watakuwa wengi zaidi,
“Na sasa nimeamua ikiwa nitakuwa gavana wa Bungoma, siwezi nikawa kwa chama kingine isipokuwa Ford Kenya,” he said.
Loosely translated to: I have sat down and analyzed the political landscape. The majority of MCAs in Bungoma County were elected to the Ford Kenya party, a trend that may recur in 2027. And I have decided that I will join Ford Kenya,” Barasa said.
Ford Kenya which is led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, UDA led by President William Ruto, and Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) are all under Kenya Kwanza.
Bungoma has over the years been perceived to be Ford Kenya’s stronghold.
