Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged Western Kenya to support President Ruto’s re-election in 2027 while developing a long-term political strategy aimed at positioning the region to pursue the presidency after Ruto’s second term.
Mudavadi said Western Kenya should look beyond the 2027 General Election and develop a coordinated regional agenda focused on political influence, economic development and continuity of government projects.
Speaking during the launch of the Magharibi Movement Lobby Group at Kakamega High School in Kakamega County, Mudavadi urged residents to increase voter registration and support Ruto for a second term.
“We should look at our numbers and register more voters to ensure we give President Ruto a petition free 2nd term. Our agenda should span beyond 2027, strategically positioning ourselves and begin thinking of how to transform the lives of our people. We must now stop depending on the 5-year election cycle trends,” Mudavadi said.
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He said Western Kenya should develop a long-term political and development plan instead of focusing only on election cycles.
“Our agenda should focus on having a plan as a community and as a region. We begin a conversation about continuity and posterity. We plan about the continuity of projects that are important for our region, the way other regions are planning ahead,” he added.
Defends Support for Ruto
Mudavadi argued that maintaining alignment with the national government was strategically important for Western Kenya because it would support the completion of infrastructure and economic projects in the region.
He said previous administrations had not placed sufficient emphasis on developing Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga and Bungoma, particularly in areas such as road infrastructure.
Mudavadi cited the ongoing expansion of the iron-mau Summit road, saying the project would improve connectivity between Western Kenya and the wider East African region through the Malaba border and Uganda.
“Some senior officials used to tell the Presidents during the previous regimes that this road is not economically viable. We need to wake up and understand that these leaders didn’t mean well for our people. President Ruto is now pushing for this road to be expanded, for it to open our region economically and also reduce travel time and cists for our people and goods to and from the capital city of Nairobi and beyond,” Mudavadi said.
He described the road project and other government investments as reasons for Western Kenya to support Ruto’s re-election.
“This and other projects that are being implemented under President Ruto’s administration are the key reason why under the broad-based arrangement we have to support his re-election. Two-Term without a petition should be our walk and talk,” he added.
Magharibi Movement
Mudavadi said the Magharibi Movement would not operate solely as a campaign vehicle for the 2027 elections but would seek to unite Western Kenya and advocate for the region’s long-term interests.
“This is a very powerful movement we are setting-up as a network and as a strategy. This will not just be a political vehicle for 2027 but a lobby group to champion for the welfare and destiny of our people and region,” he said.
He said the region needed a strong political structure and network to increase its influence nationally.
“You cannot win the presidency without a party, a structure and a network. Under the Magharibi Movement we want to walk together to help increase the winning margin for President Ruto. We are thinking beyond 2027 and crafting a new vehicle that will speak for the people of our region,” Mudavadi said.
More than 2,000 representatives of the movement attended the launch, drawn from the 12 sub-counties of Kakamega County.
The sub-counties represented included Butere, Ikolomani, Khwisero, Likuyani, Lugari, Lurambi, Malava, Matungu, Mumias East, Mumias West, Navakholo and Shinyalu.
Leaders attending the event pledged to support Mudavadi’s efforts to expand the movement across Western Kenya, with Kakamega serving as its anchor.
Western Kenya Eyes 2032 Presidency
Former nominated Vihiga MCA Douglas Beru backed Mudavadi’s initiative, saying the region needed to follow a coordinated political strategy.
“We have no reason to doubt the direction that our political father Musalia Mudavadi gives us. As a region and a people, we have to learn from the previous lessons and follow his clarion call. When he says left, we keep left when he says right that should be final,” Beru said.
Malava MP David Ndakwa said the initiative should unite Western Kenya behind Ruto while preparing the region for a possible presidential bid after 2027.
“This is a journey to unite this region and begin a conversation towards supporting President Ruto, his administration, his re-election and thinking beyond 2027 for the purposes of making sure our people benefit fully even as we eye the 2032 presidency,” Ndakwa said.
Former Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali called on Mudavadi to bring together leaders from the region to agree on a common political direction.
“We as leaders should first unite and show our people the right direction. I am calling on Musalia Mudavadi to take lead and call all the leaders from this region, we sit down and agree on where we want to take our people. We are now in the Broad-Based courtesy of UDA-ODM formation, but we also need to think where the future of our region lies,” Washiali said.
The launch signals an effort by Western Kenya leaders to consolidate the region’s political influence ahead of the 2027 General Election while laying the groundwork for a long-term presidential strategy.
