Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s political camp has suffered a setback in Kakamega after an MCA elected on the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket publicly threw his support behind Governor Fernandes Barasa and President William Ruto.
Kisa East MCA Dickson Aduda endorsed Barasa’s bid for a second term during the governor’s development tour of the ward on Thursday, September 10.
Aduda’s move is significant because he secured his seat on the DCP ticket during the November 2025 by-election, when the party was emerging as one of the political vehicles associated with Gachagua’s opposition to President William Ruto.
During the event, Barasa welcomed Aduda before residents and described him as a leader with whom his administration was already working closely.
Barasa also highlighted Aduda’s political journey, noting that the MCA had been elected on the DCP platform but was now supporting his re-election.
Aduda, in turn, openly backed Barasa and urged residents of Kisa East to give the governor more time to complete development projects in the area.
The MCA pointed to road works and an ongoing water project as some of the reasons he believed residents should support Barasa.
He noted that the governor had already graded a local road and promised to upgrade another section to tarmac, while water pipes were being installed in the area.
Aduda’s endorsement could attract political attention because of the wider battle for influence in Kakamega ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua’s DCP has been positioning itself as a major force in the opposition space, while Ruto’s allies continue working to consolidate support across Western Kenya.
For Gachagua’s camp, Aduda’s decision could therefore be viewed as an uncomfortable development, particularly because he was elected under the DCP banner and is now publicly supporting a governor aligned with the Ruto camp.
However, Aduda appeared to base his decision primarily on development, asking residents to judge Barasa by what they can see on the ground.
He used the example of pregnancy to urge residents to give their leaders sufficient time to deliver before judging their performance.
Aduda said residents should stand with Barasa so that he can continue implementing projects not only in Kisa East but also across Khwisero and Kakamega County.
The endorsement adds another twist to the increasingly competitive political landscape in Western Kenya, where Ruto’s allies and Gachagua’s DCP are both seeking to expand their influence ahead of 2027.