President William Ruto is in Busia County to participate in the consecration and enthronement of Vitalis Job Ekuru as the fourth bishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya's Katakwa Diocese. The ceremony takes place in Amagoro on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

Ekuru succeeds Rt. Reverend John Okude, who retired in February 2026 after reaching the mandatory retirement age. He was elected following a competitive process by the 23-member Provincial Electoral College, which concluded after two rounds of voting. Ekuru defeated contenders Ven. Moses Idewa and Reverend Cain Emojong, with the electoral body celebrating the outcome with songs.

Linda Mwananchi Movement Mobilizes in Western Kenya

Simultaneously, the opposition-led Linda Mwananchi movement, under Edwin Sifuna, is actively holding rallies across Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties. Their engagements began with a church service and visits to Kiminini, Kimilili, and Chwele, culminating in a rally at Posta Grounds in Bungoma Town.

This surge in political activity highlights Western Kenya as a focal point in the build-up to the 2027 General Election.

Sifuna Criticizes Ruto Over County Funding and Housing Policies

During the Linda Mwananchi tour, Sifuna accused President Ruto of deliberately withholding adequate funding from county governments, singling out Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka as a victim of this alleged marginalization.

  • “Lusaka kama Governor unajua adui mkubwa wa ugatuzi, yule mtu amekufinyilia kama Governor ni William Ruto,” Sifuna stated.
  • He also condemned the government’s handling of violent protests, linking it to Ruto’s ‘shoot-to-leg’ directive for police officers.

The debate over the Affordable Housing Programme has intensified, with Sifuna questioning the practicality of living in multi-storey buildings, humorously referencing how residents would manage keeping chickens on upper floors.

President Ruto dismissed these concerns during a State House meeting on July 23, 2026, calling the argument illogical. Sifuna later responded on social media, comparing the dispute to arguing over trivial matters.

Political Contest in Western Kenya Heats Up

President Ruto’s presence in Busia and the Linda Mwananchi rallies in Bungoma underscore the increasing political contest in Western Kenya as both government and opposition leaders vie for voter support ahead of the upcoming elections.