Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa has announced a political break with National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, accusing him of allegedly supporting his brother, Tim Wanyonyi, in Bungoma politics while maintaining his public alignment with President William Ruto.
In a strongly worded statement, Barasa said he had withdrawn his political support for Wetang’ula’s leadership in Bungoma County, arguing that their differences over local political leadership had become irreconcilable.
The legislator said the decision was not driven by personal animosity but by what he described as the need for ideological consistency and clarity ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“After careful reflection and wide consultation, I have decided to withdraw my political support from the current political direction of Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, EGH in Bungoma County,” Barasa said.
He accused Wetang’ula of allegedly supporting Tim Wanyonyi, who is his political competitor, while continuing to stand with President Ruto at the national level.
Barasa described the situation as a “serious conflict of interest and a case of dual political allegiance,” arguing that political leaders could not simultaneously support competing political formations.
He further claimed that some leaders within the FORD-Kenya party, including Members of County Assembly, were displaying divided loyalties because of their political alignments in Bungoma.
Wetang’ula, who leads FORD-Kenya, has a brotherly relationship with Tim Wanyonyi, a former Westlands MP who has been associated with the contest for Bungoma’s gubernatorial seat. Barasa’s statement places that family relationship at the centre of his political disagreement with the Speaker.
Barasa rejects political succession
The Kimilili MP also criticised what he portrayed as an attempt to influence Bungoma’s political future through family connections rather than open competition.
“Bungoma is not a Monarchy. It is a democracy premised on merit, competition, and the sovereign will of the people, not hereditary succession,” he said.
Barasa alleged that Wetang’ula favoured his brother and reprimanded him when he subjected Tim Wanyonyi to political scrutiny.
He insisted that his criticism of Wanyonyi was based on their rivalry in politics and not on his family relationship with the Speaker.
The MP also accused Wetang’ula of mismanaging a 30 per cent allocation that he said was provided for under a memorandum of understanding (MOU), alleging that the funds or opportunities were distributed predominantly to close family members before others benefited.
Barasa did not provide supporting documentation for the allegation in the statement.
Reaffirms support for Ruto and UDA
Despite his fallout with Wetang’ula over Bungoma politics, Barasa maintained that he remained firmly behind President William Ruto and the Broad-Based Government agenda.
He said the disagreement was confined to their political visions for Bungoma rather than their stated national political direction.
“Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang’ula and I share the same horizon in President William Ruto. At the national level, our destination is convergent. But in Bungoma, our political philosophy and local vision are divergent,” he said.
Barasa added that he would now concentrate on strengthening the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), building grassroots networks and pursuing alliances with local leaders and political parties whose ambitions align with his vision for the county.
He specifically said he was open to working with elected leaders and members of FORD-Kenya who shared his opposition to what he described as hereditary political succession.
The legislator is seeking to become Bungoma governor in the 2027 General Election, setting the stage for an increasingly competitive contest over the county’s political future.
Barasa concluded that his decision to break with Wetang’ula had freed him to campaign against political rivals without what he described as pressure arising from the Speaker’s family ties.
