Written by Lisa Murimi
Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi has declared he will run for the Bungoma gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election, stepping away from the Nairobi race he was once widely expected to pursue.
Speaking with heartfelt conviction during an interview on Radio 47 on Monday, July 7, Wanyonyi said it was time to return home and serve the people of Bungoma—his birthplace and where his political journey began in spirit.
“As Tim Wanyonyi, I’m ready to go and serve the people of Bungoma now. The stance is that in the next general elections, I will be vying for the Bungoma Gubernatorial seat,” Wanyonyi said.
This marks a dramatic turn from his 2022 aspirations to become Nairobi’s governor, a bid he launched with great fanfare and broad support before it was derailed by undisclosed political undercurrents.
“I remember the last time I was running for the Governor of Nairobi and I even launched my campaign. I remember I was even endorsed by pastors and also residents, and they assured me that they would support me,” the MP said.
“But when I went ahead, there emerged some complications that led me not to be on the Governor’s ballot paper, but I want to assure people that this time I will make sure I complete that journey,” he said.
Now, with a renewed sense of purpose, Wanyonyi is embracing his roots—Mukwheya in Bungoma—and preparing for what may be his final and most personal political race.
His announcement comes as Nairobi politics heats up, with Irungu Nyakera, a former KICC chair and PS, subtly positioning himself to challenge Governor Sakaja under the Democracy for Citizens Party.
“In Nairobi, I believe that the party I can work with is the DCP. This is because it is a truthful party. Right now, we want the truth in Kenya—and for Nairobi. We also want development for Nairobians,” Nyakera said.
Yet, as others circle the capital’s power, Wanyonyi walks away—not in defeat, but in fulfillment.
And perhaps, after decades in public service, that’s the legacy Tim Wanyonyi seeks to leave behind.
