Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Party candidate Wafula Wamunyinyi was on Friday cleared to replace Francis Masika as Bungoma Senator.
The Democratic Action Party Of Kenya (DAP-K) Leader presented his papers in the afternoon, flanked by Azimio leaders.
Shortly after receiving certificate, the former Kanduyi MP thanked his supporters for believing in him, stating that he has a responsibility to fulfil his agenda to the people.
“I must thank my supporters for the continuous support you have constantly given me. I will ensure that I stick to my agenda of empowering devolution for the people of Bungoma,” said Wamunyinyi.
DAP-K Patron Eugene Wamalwa also backed Wamunyinyi, adding that his political maturity and experience is needed in the Senate to advocate for the people of Bungoma.
“I want to tell the people of Bungoma that Honorable Wafula Wamunyinyi is a tried, tested and proven leader who doesn’t hold grudges with anyone and he is the best qualified to represent you in the Senate.”
The former Defence CS added that Wamunyinyi is the only leader who tabled a sugar bill in the Senate that’s awaiting activation because he wants a long-lasting solution to the plight of the farmers and workers.
Wamunyinyi’s convoy then snaked in the streets of Bungoma town, bringing operations to standstill as residents stopped to listen to Wamunyinyi’s address.
His supporters blew vuvuzelas, waved the Azimio flags and chanted political songs that support the ‘Man with Big Beards.
Residents were also treated to a surprise appearance of the youthful Mumias East MP Peter Salasya who was elected on DAP-K.
Salasya, coming from the heart of sugar farming in Western Kenya, also insisted on the need to support Wamunyinyi’s Senate bid to spearhead his pending Sugar Bill which, if passed, will boost the sugar industry in Kenya.
Wamunyinyi’s convoy did not miss Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, who added that voting for the Azimio candidate will be a good step to oversight Governor Lusaka, who is in Kenya Kwanza.
IEBC has scheduled the Bungoma by election to be held on December 8, 2022. The seat fell vacant when Mr. Masika assumed the responsibility as National Assembly Speaker.
This is the second time that Bungoma will be having a Senatorial by election. The first time was in 2013 when Masika’s victory was nullified by the court, forcing residents to go into a by election which the then incumbent, won.
Wamunyinyi will battling it out with Ford Kenya’s Wafula Wakoli and UDA’s Mwambu Mabonga, both from the Kenya Kwanza coalition that is expected to share votes and give Wamunyinyi an easy sail between.