UDA MP Announces Withdrawal of Support for Wetang’ula

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has announced his decision to withdraw political support for National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, citing differences over local political leadership in Bungoma County.

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has announced his decision to withdraw political support for National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, citing differences over local political leadership in Bungoma County. 

In a statement on Monday, October 26, Barasa said the decision followed careful reflection and consultations, arguing that Wetang’ula should retire from Bungoma politics after more than three decades in leadership. 

He also questioned the Speaker’s perceived political alignment with his brother, Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi, who is a potential political competitor in the Bungoma gubernatorial race. 

“After careful reflection and wide consultation, I have decided to withdraw my political support from the current political direction of Moses Wetang’ula, in Bungoma County, and to align myself with the popular view that he retires from Bungoma politics after more than three decades at the helm, with little to ride home about apart from his close family associates,” he wrote.

Barasa clarified that his decision was not driven by personal differences with Wetang’ula but by what he described as the need to protect political stability and establish a clear direction for Bungoma County.

“This decision is not precipitated by disrespect or personal animosity. It is a principled act of political realignment, undertaken to safeguard the unity, stability, and long-term political trajectory of our people,” he added.

Barasa accused Wetang’ula of maintaining conflicting political interests by publicly supporting President William Ruto at the national level while allegedly backing his brother and the opposition political formation associated with him in local politics.

He argued that such an arrangement created uncertainty about the Speaker’s political allegiance and could undermine the interests of leaders seeking to strengthen the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in Bungoma.

“Leadership demands ideological coherence and strategic clarity. The growing perception that Rt. Hon. Wetang’ula is tacitly supporting his brother, Hon. Tim Wanyonyi, and the opposition formation to which he is aligned, while publicly standing with the President at the national level, constitutes a serious conflict of interest and a case of dual political allegiance,” he further said.

Barasa further warned that remaining politically associated with Wetang’ula under the circumstances could weaken his support base and benefit a political formation that does not share his objectives.

“Any continued close political association with this arrangement risks eroding my political base from within and channelling political goodwill to a formation that does not share my vision,” he noted.

Barasa also questioned the political influence of the Wetang’ula family in Bungoma, alleging that Wanyonyi controlled the grassroots structures of FORD-Kenya with the backing of his brother.

He maintained that political leadership in the county should be determined through competition and the will of voters rather than family relationships or inherited political influence.

“The empirical reality in Bungoma must be articulated with honesty and respect: his brother constitutes a singular political entity. He controls the FORD-Kenya grassroots infrastructure, and he operates with his brother’s explicit blessings,” he further said.

Barasa insisted that Bungoma should not be treated as a political territory dominated by a single family. He also alleged that Wetang’ula had expressed displeasure when he subjected Wanyonyi, his political competitor, to scrutiny and democratic contestation.

“Bungoma is not a Monarchy. It is a democracy premised on merit, competition, and the sovereign will of the people, not hereditary succession. Therefore, I am disassociating myself from Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang’ula – a leader whose body language is politically instructive. He frowns and reprimands me whenever I subject his brother, who is my political competitor, to legitimate political scrutiny and democratic contestation,” he stated.

Despite withdrawing his support for Wetang’ula, Barasa reaffirmed his commitment to President Ruto and the Broad-Based Government agenda. 

He said he would now focus on strengthening UDA structures and building alliances ahead of the 2027 general election, in which he intends to contest the Bungoma governorship.

The MP also said he would work with elected leaders and members of FORD-Kenya who share his political objectives, particularly his opposition to hereditary leadership.

“I remain firmly and unequivocally committed to H.E. President William Ruto and the Broad-Based Government agenda. Henceforth, I will concentrate on consolidating the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the political vehicle I will deploy in my bid to be elected Governor of Bungoma next year, on constructing robust grassroots systems, and on forging strategic alliances with wananchi and like-minded local political parties that share our vision, including elected leaders and members of the FORD-Kenya party whose vision is similar to mine – that the door to hereditary leadership should be permanently shut,” he concluded.

This comes months after Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga announced that he was cutting ties with Barasa, accusing him of repeatedly displaying disrespectful conduct during funeral gatherings.

In a statement on Sunday, May 31, Kalasinga said the decision followed repeated incidents that he claimed had angered mourners, church leaders, and local communities, particularly after what he described as embarrassing scenes witnessed during a recent funeral gathering at Khachonge.

“I, Majimbo Kalasinga, together with the church leadership under the guidance of His Holiness Bishop Mark Kadima, wish to formally express our profound disappointment and concern regarding your recent conduct during funeral gatherings attended within the region,” the statement read.

Kalasinga accused Barasa of frequently leaving funeral ceremonies with groups of supporters immediately after speaking, arguing that such actions undermined the purpose and solemnity of the events.

“Your repeated behavior of departing with mourners immediately after your address in funeral services, while disregarding the church leadership, bereaved families, and the wider community gathered to mourn their loved ones, has raised serious dissatisfaction,” the statement added.

Kevin Koech is a seasoned digital journalist with over five years in the industry, covering breaking news, current affairs, and business stories.

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