Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has ramped up her gubernatorial ambitions for Trans Nzoia County by boldly declaring she will send incumbent Governor George Natembeya packing in the 2027 elections, with key allies like Speaker Moses Wetangula, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and presidential advisor Farouk Kibet ready to back her winning bid.
The confident statement came during a lively harambee at the Kitale Agricultural Show of Kenya grounds on Sunday, where hundreds of supporters braved light drizzle to hear the aspiring leader outline her vision.
Former CS Nakhumicha, now Kenya’s representative to the United Nations Habitat, wasted no time in addressing the elephant in the room. “Niko sure nitapeleka Natembeya nyumbani. Wetangula, Mudavadi na Farouk Kibet watanisaidia kushinda,” she told the roaring crowd, her voice cutting through the cheers.
The crowd erupted as she added, “Mbali na hivyo niko na experience sababu nimekuwa CS nikajua kupanga kazi.” Her words show a campaign theme centred on proven administrative chops from her time steering the Health Ministry through the tail end of the COVID-19 crisis.
The Susan Nakhumicha Trans Nzoia governor bid has gained momentum since she hinted at it last month during a church service in Endebess.
Political experts point out that her connection with the Kenya Kwanza coalition, along with Wetangula’s support in Western Kenya and Mudavadi’s influence among the Luhya people, could attract voters in a county that has mostly been controlled by Farouk Kibet, known for his sharp political manoeuvres behind President Ruto’s scenes. He reportedly attended a private strategy session with Nakhumicha in Nairobi last week, sources close to the camp revealed.
Governor Natembeya, seeking re-election on a Ford Kenya ticket after breaking from ANC, dismissed the challenge as early noise. “Trans Nzoia knows who delivered on roads, water, and youth jobs. Experience from afar won’t change that,” he said Monday morning, tagging allies like former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa. The race is shaping up as a high-stakes Luhya power play, with Nakhumicha positioning herself as the disciplined reformer against Natembeya’s populist style.
Nakhumicha’s pitch leans heavily on her CS tenure, where she oversaw the rollout of universal health coverage pilots and community health promoter programmes that reached over 100,000 households in Rift Valley.
“I organised chaos into results. As governor, I’ll do the same for our tea farms, dairy cooperatives, and urban sprawl in Kitale,” she promised, unveiling a preliminary manifesto that includes Sh500 million for irrigation schemes and vocational hubs in every sub-county.
Supporters at the harambee, many wearing branded caps with “Nakhumicha 2027: Experience Delivers”, raised over Sh3 million toward campaign logistics. Youth coordinator Mercy Barasa, 28, from Saboti, said the event felt like a turning point. “We’ve waited for a leader who speaks our language of hard work, not handouts. Susan gets it from her ministry days.”
Critics, including some ANC remnants, question whether her national profile translates to grassroots appeal. “She’s been in Geneva too long. Voters want someone who’s felt the potholes on the Kiminini-Kitale road daily,” quipped local blogger Juma Wekesa in a viral thread.
The Trans Nzoia political scene buzzes with whispers of more big names eyeing the seat, including former MP Chris Wamalwa, but Nakhumicha’s early bird strategy seems to be paying off. She plans town halls in Cherangany and Kwanza next week to drum up more endorsements from ward reps and saccos.
As December unfolds, the Susan Nakhumicha Trans Nzoia gubernatorial bid stands as a test of coalition loyalty in a county pivotal to Ruto’s 2027 math. With Wetangula’s podium presence at the harambee sealing the deal, Natembeya’s camp is already countering with door-to-door drives. For the women and youth tired of recycled promises, Nakhumicha’s blend of experience and alliance firepower offers a fresh bet on change that could redefine county leadership by polling day.