Two Nyamira County Assembly members who were controversially elected during the Fred Matiang’i-backed United Progressive Alliance (UPA) wave have now officially crossed over to the little-known Broadbased in a move that has stunned political circles in the Gusii region.
Digital strategist and Kenya Kwanza insider Dennis Itumbi broke the news on Wednesday morning, revealing that the two newly elected ward representatives from Nyamira were actually Broad-Based candidates running under the UPA banner as part of a carefully orchestrated strategy.
Itumbi stated that the United Progressive Alliance was fully aligned with the broad-based political setup from the beginning. “The two newly elected MCAs in Nyamira were, in fact, broad-based candidates. UPA is fully aligned with the broad-based setup, and Governor Amos Nyaribo, as party leader, praised them for delivering a broad-based triumph,” he posted.
He went on to mock the opposition, referring to them as “United in Confusion” for failing to detect what he described as a well-planned political manoeuvre. “Once again, congratulations, BROAD BASED, for winning in Nyamira,” Itumbi concluded.
Sources within the Nyamira County Assembly confirmed to this reporter that the two MCAs, whose names have not yet been officially released by the party, represent wards in the Rigoma and Bokeira areas where by-elections were held last month following the death of the previous representatives.
The wards had been strongholds of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s influence, and many observers expected UPA to retain them comfortably. However, the decision to field broad-based candidates under UPA tickets now appears to have been a deliberate strategy to consolidate support behind a new political vehicle that is quietly gaining momentum in the region.
Governor Amos Nyaribo, who doubles as the UPA party leader, reportedly welcomed the development during a closed-door meeting with the new MCAs at his Nyamira residence on Tuesday evening. Insiders say the governor described the outcome as “a masterstroke that keeps Nyamira firmly in the progressive fold while expanding our base.”
Nyaribo has in recent months distanced himself from the broader Azimio coalition, preferring to chart an independent path that many now believe is closely tied to the emerging Broad-Based movement associated with President William Ruto’s allies in the Gusii region.
The TuTam party, registered only last year, has remained largely under the radar but is now attracting defectors from both UDA and ODM in Nyamira and neighbouring Kisii counties. Political analysts say the party’s name, derived from the Ekegusii phrase meaning “we have agreed”, is deliberately crafted to appeal to voters tired of national party politics.
Its rapid growth in membership has caught many established parties off guard, especially after it secured two crucial MCA seats in what was considered Matiang’i territory.
Former powerful Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, who campaigned for them under united opposition, is now at a crossroads. His allies insist that the shift to TuTam does not represent a betrayal but rather a pragmatic realignment to protect Gusii interests in the changing political landscape ahead of 2027.
“Dr Matiang’i blessed this arrangement from the beginning. The goal has always been unity, not division,” said a close confidant who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The development has triggered frantic reactions from opposition leaders in the county. ODM’s Nyamira branch chairman, Professor Omweri, termed the move “a betrayal of the people who voted believing they were electing UPA representatives.”
He accused Governor Nyaribo of secretly negotiating with Kenya Kwanza affiliates while publicly maintaining a neutral stance. “The people of Nyamira deserve honesty. These games of musical chairs only benefit a few individuals,” he told journalists in Kisii town.
Youth leaders brandished banners reading “TuTam is the Future” and “Broad-Based Delivers”. One excited supporter told this reporter, “We have been planning this for months. Even the opposition thought these wards were theirs. Today we showed them that Gusii politics has new thinkers.”
As the dust settles, political watchers say the Nyamira defections signal the beginning of a wider realignment in the region. With Matiang’i’s once-dominant influence appearing to pivot toward a new formation, and Governor Nyaribo openly embracing the Broad-Based tag, the stage is set for a fascinating contest in the coming years.
For now, Dennis Itumbi’s cryptic victory lap has achieved its intended effect: putting TuTam and the broad-based movement firmly on the national political map, one county ward at a time.
