Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa has sparked speculation about possible political differences within the President William Ruto-led camp in Bungoma after publishing and subsequently deleting a Facebook post declaring that his local political vision was at odds with that of unnamed leaders.
In the post, Barasa said he shared President Ruto’s national political direction but differed with other political actors over Bungoma’s leadership and development priorities.
“Though we share the same horizon in President William Ruto. Nationally, our destination is the same. But in Bungoma, our philosophy and local vision are in serious conflict,” he wrote.
He added that the differences had reached a point where the sides needed to part ways, insisting that the disagreement was not about their national political direction but their competing visions for Bungoma.
“Our philosophy is at a crossroads. Our local preparation is different. So we must part ways, not because the national vision divided us, but because the local vision did,” Barasa stated.
Although the MP did not name the people or political faction he was referring to, the remarks have raised questions about possible disagreements over Bungoma’s political leadership as the 2027 General Election approaches.
The UDA question
Barasa has declared his intention to contest the Bungoma governorship on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, placing him among the leaders seeking to succeed Governor Kenneth Lusaka.
His statement that he remains aligned with President Ruto nationally but differs with unnamed actors over Bungoma’s direction could point to tensions over local political arrangements, leadership and the contest for the county’s top seat.
However, the post did not explicitly mention UDA, its leadership or any particular gubernatorial rival. It is therefore unclear whether Barasa was referring to disagreements within the ruling party or to a wider political dispute in the county.
Where Edwin Sifuna fits in
The remarks also come amid an increasingly visible rivalry between Barasa and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who hails from Bungoma and has been building his political profile in the region ahead of the 2027 elections.
The two leaders have clashed publicly at political gatherings, with their differences reflecting the broader contest between pro-government leaders and the opposition-aligned Linda Mwananchi movement.
In July 2026, their rivalry came into focus during a burial ceremony in Bungoma, where the two exchanged political criticism over the government’s performance, political mobilisation and Barasa’s gubernatorial ambitions.
Sifuna has since pursued greater political engagement in Bungoma, a development that has added another dimension to the competition for influence in the county.
Against this backdrop, Barasa’s reference to conflicting local visions has prompted questions about whether the deleted post was connected to the wider political contest involving Sifuna and his allies.
