Ruto Under Fresh Pressure as Western Leaders Demand Wetang’ula Be Named 2027 Running Mate.
Pressure is mounting on President William Ruto to select National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula as his running mate in the 2027 General Election after influential leaders from Western Kenya publicly declared him the region’s preferred candidate for the country’s second-highest office.
The renewed campaign has injected fresh momentum into the increasingly heated debate surrounding President Ruto’s 2027 re-election ticket, even as Deputy President Kithure Kindiki continues to serve in the position.
Speaking during a women’s economic empowerment programme in Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa said leaders from Western Kenya had reached a common position that Wetang’ula should deputise President Ruto in 2027 before succeeding him as the region’s presidential candidate in 2032.
“As the people of Western Kenya, we have identified our own leader, and that leader is National Assembly Speaker Moses Masika Wetang’ula. He is equal to the task. We want our people to understand that after we re-elect President William Ruto in 2027, we expect the presidency to come to Western Kenya in 2032,” Barasa declared.
The governor argued that President Ruto’s administration had increased development projects across the Western region, pointing to investments in roads, hospitals, markets and sports infrastructure as evidence that the area had benefited from the Kenya Kwanza government.
According to Barasa, the projects had strengthened public support for the President and positioned the region to play a decisive role in the next General Election.
“If we achieve these targets, Western Kenya will deliver about four million votes to President Ruto in 2027,” he said.
The remarks come amid growing political manoeuvring over President Ruto’s running mate, with the deputy presidency emerging as one of the most closely watched positions ahead of the 2027 elections.
Although Kindiki currently occupies the office, speculation over whether President Ruto will retain his current deputy or opt for a new political alliance continues to dominate succession politics, with leaders from several regions quietly positioning themselves for the coveted role.
Several lawmakers echoed Barasa’s sentiments during the event.
Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala claimed that consultations among Western leaders held in Naivasha had produced a consensus that the region should be rewarded with the deputy presidency in return for delivering overwhelming support to President Ruto’s re-election bid.
Lurambi MP Titus Khamala also threw his weight behind Wetang’ula, revealing that he had shifted his support from Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and now believes the National Assembly Speaker is the best-placed leader to champion Western Kenya’s future presidential ambitions.
Responding to the growing endorsements, Wetang’ula avoided directly addressing the running mate debate but challenged residents of Western Kenya to prioritise voter registration, arguing that political influence would ultimately depend on the region’s voting strength.
His remarks are likely to intensify political discussions within Kenya Kwanza, where the composition of President Ruto’s 2027 ticket is expected to become one of the coalition’s defining issues as preparations for the next General Election gather pace.
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