Former Bungoma governor Wycliffe Wangamati said he joined President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza coalition after he received a call from Ruto.
Wangamati served as the Bungoma governor between 2017-22 but lost his seat to Kenneth Lusaka of Ford Kenya.
Speaking at a funeral service of Albert Wesonga in Bumula over the weekend, Wangamati said the President reached out to him requesting if they could work together.
“When I failed to defend my gubernatorial seat in the last elections, I went to Nairobi to focus on other things but the president reached out to me asking me if I could work with him, I accepted. We had a candid conversation over our working modalities,” Wangamati said.
Wangamati noted that he has agreed to work with the President as he prepares to make a comeback in the 2027 general elections.
“My meeting with the President was not meant to sacrifice anybody but to discuss how we can work together to develop Bungoma and the country,” he said.
“I accepted the results announced by IEBC declaring Kenneth Lusaka the governor, I handed over power. Now may God keep us alive to plan for 2027."
In addition, Wangamati praised the President for steering developments in the country noting that Ruto delivered when he was the Minister for Agriculture.
“Ruto’s scorecard is known, you remember when he was the minister for Agriculture that tells you that he will still deliver as the President of the Republic,” he said.
Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah who was also present at the funeral slammed Wangamati for ditching Azimio for Kenya Kwanza.
“I and former CS Eugene Wamalwa are very strong in Azimio. We are ready to be arrested but we shall stand to fight for the local mwananchi,” he said.
Wajackoyah called on the Luhya leaders in the government to support the region’s growth.
In his reply, Wangamati brushed off Wajackoyah's sentiments, saying that he would have done the same if President Ruto called him.
“Please my friend Wajackoyah, don’t blame me so much I know in the event that Ruto calls you to visit him at the state house you will go there very fast," he said.
"I went to see Ruto not because I’m a coward as you have referred but because went there on my own free ill."
DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa who was present at the funeral did not comment on the issue.
Murmurs of Wangamati ditching Azimio for Kenya Kwanza began after the former county boss was recently photographed with President Ruto and UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala.
However, Bungoma Ford Kenya MPs and MCAs have criticised the Wangamati-Ruto meeting, saying the former county chief should not be accepted in Kenya Kwanza since he had been at the forefront of fighting National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
Wangamati is alleged to be among some of the leaders who wanted to oust Wetang’ula from Ford Kenya ahead of the 2022 general elections.
Others were former MPs Eseli Simiyu(Tongaren) and Wafula Wamunyinyi(Kanduyi).
“We don’t want a handshake here in Bungoma the same way we have maintained at the national level, those who ditched Ford Kenya and planned a party coup should not be accepted back in the house,” Webuye East MP Martin Wanyonyi said.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has also declared his interest in running for the Bungoma gubernatorial seat in 2027 on the Ford Kenya ticket.
Recently, Wetang’ula endorsed Barasa to run for the position, Barasa hinted at ditching UDA and joining Ford Kenya.