A group of elders from Kakamega's 12 sub-counties has stepped into the escalating political rivalry between Governor Fernandes Barasa and former senator Cleophas Malala. The elders, led by Samuel Asumwa and Elijah Chitayi, defended Barasa against claims circulating on social media over videos linked to his 2022 political activities. They argued that the clips had been taken out of context and did not prove allegations that Barasa sought the services of a traditional medicine practitioner to gain a political advantage.
The rivalry between Barasa and Malala has intensified, with both sides exchanging blows on social media. The elders warned that this could lead to the spread of unverified information and inflame communities. They urged politicians and their supporters to compete on ideas, development records, and competing visions for Kakamega instead of personal attacks. This, they believe, will help to lower the political temperature and prevent residents from becoming conduits for unverified information.
The elders clarified that they were not seeking to shield Barasa from scrutiny or silence his critics. They acknowledged that Barasa remained accountable to the people and should answer for his leadership, decisions, and public record. However, they drew a distinction between legitimate scrutiny and the circulation of unverified allegations, evidence, and insinuation, as well as criticism and character assassination.
The intervention by the elders comes at a sensitive time, with politicians already positioning themselves for the next electoral contest. They warned that in such an environment, old photos, videos, and statements could easily be resurrected, repackaged, and used against political opponents. The elders urged residents to establish the truth before forwarding content whose origin and context they had not verified.
Chitayi emphasized the importance of verifying information before sharing it, describing this as a return to an old principle. The elders' stand is likely to add another layer to the Barasa-Malala contest, with supporters on both sides seeing the intervention as part of a wider struggle to shape the political narrative in Kakamega.
The elders' message is one of responsible leadership and protecting Kakamega's social fabric rather than taking sides in a contest between rival political camps. They urged Barasa and Malala to focus on facts, development records, and ideas instead of personal attacks. This, they believe, will help to promote a more constructive and issue-based political discourse in the county.
The article was authored by Harry Ivan Mboto, a Current Affairs and Politics Editor at TUKO.co.ke, and Rasto Wamalwa, a political and current affairs journalist with experience in broadcast and print media. The piece was published on October 6, 2026, at 7:44 PM.
Key points
- Elders from Kakamega's 12 sub-counties defend Governor Fernandes Barasa amid viral videos.
- The elders urge politicians to focus on facts, development records, and ideas instead of personal attacks.
- The intervention aims to promote responsible leadership and protect Kakamega's social fabric.
