Wetang'ula Wants Eugene Wamalwa to Join Ruto

On 20 September 2026, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula (Bungoma) publicly urged Eugene Wamalwa (Saboti), leader of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), to leave the opposition and join President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza. He said it at a funeral in Wamalwa's home constituency with Wamalwa present. No public reply from Wamalwa was reported that day. By 21 September he was inviting Edwin Sifuna (Senator, Nairobi) to join DAP-K.

What Wetang'ula said

The Star reported the funeral was in Kapretwa village, Saboti constituency, Trans Nzoia, for Edward Musombi Munabi, a Ford Kenya supporter. Allan Chesang (Senator, Trans Nzoia) was there, as was Susan Nakhumicha, Kenya's representative to UN-Habitat.

Wetang'ula, who leads Ford Kenya, called Wamalwa his "younger brother" and warned him: "The political formation my younger brother Eugene currently supports... will betray him... You are in the wrong political camp. Please join us in Kenya Kwanza." He also argued for Western Kenya unity across party lines. Political differences, he said, should not block development.

Wamalwa's answer, in effect

Everything Wamalwa did in public that week pointed the other way. The Standard reported on 21 September that he accused the Registrar of Political Parties of "frustrating leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement" and invited Sifuna into his party: "Should Sifuna feel frustrated, I warmly invite him to join DAP-K, as we share a common goal of forming a new government."

Nine days earlier, on 12 September, Wamalwa was on the opposition's Garissa tour with Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka (Mwingi North) and Justin Muturi (Siakago) when their convoy was stoned. He attended the opposition principals' meeting on 1 September. Nothing he said or did in public in September suggested he was about to cross.

Who Eugene Wamalwa is

Wikipedia gives his date of birth as 1 April 1969, in Saboti. He is the brother of Michael Kijana Wamalwa, Kenya's eighth Vice-President. A lawyer trained at the University of Nairobi, he has held these offices:

In 2013 he stepped back from a presidential bid to support Musalia Mudavadi (Sabatia). He served in Uhuru Kenyatta's government and backed the Azimio ticket in 2022. DAP-K is part of the united opposition that eight principals joined; see Kenya's opposition has eight principals and one ticket.

Why Wetang'ula is asking

Western Kenya is the region both camps think decides 2027; the case is in why Western Kenya will decide the 2027 election. Wetang'ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi are Ruto's two senior Luhya allies, and both have tied their futures to his re-election. Their difficulty holding the region is covered in Mudavadi and Wetang'ula have a Western Kenya problem.

Wamalwa comes from the same Bungoma and Trans Nzoia base. If he crossed over, the opposition would lose a principal in the region, and Kenya Kwanza would gain a man who served Uhuru Kenyatta, whom Ruto repeatedly describes as the opposition's "sponsor".

Ruto's own side has a complication. The Nation reported that more than 25 Western MPs endorsed Wycliffe Oparanya, an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Cabinet Secretary, for Deputy President in September. A Luhya running mate from ODM would change what Wetang'ula can offer anyone.

What to watch

Wamalwa has yet to answer Wetang'ula directly. Sifuna's response to the DAP-K offer is tied up with the party his allies said they would unveil around 3 October. DAP-K must also file its officials with the IEBC by the 15 October 2026 deadline, and whether it does so as an opposition party will be telling. For the Speaker's own position, see Moses Wetang'ula, Ford Kenya, and the cost of being the establishment.