Former Kanduyi Member of Parliament Wafula Wamunyinyi is in the Bungoma senate by-election race, he has officially declared.

Wamunyinyi will be the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Party flag bearer.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Wamunyinyi said he is confident of a landslide victory in the election.

“We have a formidable team on the ground; together we will rally every village to give us the maximum votes,” he said.

Wamunyinyi steered Kanduyi Constituency for 20 years, transforming lives through establishment of numerous schools.

“With my experience as a legislator, I’m better placed to offer proper legislation and oversight for the betterment of Bungoma,” he added.

Prior to his announcement, various groups among them sugarcane farmers had appealed to him to run, saying he fought for their interests in the National Assembly.

“We will vote for Wamunyinyi to the last farmer. He pushed for the Sugar Bill 2019 which is lying in the senate,” they said through their chair, Jack Munialo.

Wamunyinyi proposed the Sugar Bill 2019, which aims at bringing massive transformations in the sugar sector.

It sailed through the National Assembly, and it awaits consensus by the senate.

“My first motion on the floor of the House once elected will be to push for the consensus,” Wamunyinyi said.

August general elections 

In the build-up to the August 9 general elections, a cross-section of leaders and residents had requested the DAP-K party leader to run for senate seat.

However, on Saturday, he revealed why he turned down the requests.

“We had had wrangles with Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula and running against him would appear like I was fighting him.”

He added, “now that Wetang’ula has left the seat, I’m ready to take it. I am a candidate of the people; I have been endorsed by the people; I am a project of the people of Bungoma.”

The by-election will be held on December 8, 2022.

The seat fell vacant after Wetang’ula resigned to become Speaker of the National Assembly.

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