Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa has welcomed former Senator Cleophas Malala back to the Broad-Based Government, claiming the DCP Deputy Party Leader has been making calls seeking a return to government ranks.
In a social media post, Barasa expressed confidence that a fitting role could be created to match Malala’s skills, should he indeed make his way back into the Kenya Kwanza fold.
Barasa’s remarks come against the backdrop of Malala’s current position in the Democratic Change Party, where he serves as deputy to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Malala previously held the position of UDA Secretary General before being replaced by Omar Hassan, a move that significantly altered his standing within the ruling party before he eventually found his way into Gachagua’s camp.
According to Barasa, Malala has reportedly been reaching out and indicating interest in returning to government, prompting the governor to publicly appeal to President William Ruto to accommodate him should he choose to make the move official.
The governor’s comments suggest growing confidence within Kenya Kwanza circles that Malala could be edging toward a political U-turn, barely months after aligning himself with the opposition-leaning DCP.
Should Malala indeed defect back to Kenya Kwanza, it would represent a significant blow to DCP and the broader opposition coalition, given his standing as one of the most effective mobilisers in Western Kenya.
His organisational skills and influence in the region have previously been credited with strengthening DCP’s footprint in an area that has traditionally been viewed as politically competitive ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The video accompanying Barasa’s post showed a large crowd gathered around a vehicle, with a man addressing the gathering from atop the car, reflecting the kind of mobilisation efforts that have characterised political activity in the region in recent months.
Should Malala’s reported overtures translate into an actual political shift, it would mark one of the most notable defections in the build-up to the next election, with potential ramifications for the balance of power between Kenya Kwanza and the opposition in Western Kenya.