Wamalwa announced Wanyonyi's entry into the Trans Nzoia governor race after joining Christians at Friends Church Kitale for the dedication of a Sunday school and prayers for the county assembly Speaker.
The DAP-K leader described Wanyonyi as his brother and publicly wished him well as he begins his bid for the county's top political seat.
“Joined Christians of Friends Church Kitale for dedication of a Sunday school and prayers for my brother Andrew Wanyonyi, the current Speaker of the Trans Nzoia County Assembly, who is now entering the Trans Nzoia County Gubernatorial race,” Wamalwa said.
“I wished him fair winds and following seas,” he added.
Wanyonyi is the current Speaker of the Trans Nzoia County Assembly, according to the assembly's official website.
His entry into the gubernatorial race comes at a politically significant moment in Trans Nzoia, following the highly publicised fallout between Wamalwa and Natembeya.
Wamalwa vs Natembeya
Natembeya was previously a senior DAP-K figure and served as the party's deputy leader before announcing his departure from the outfit in July 2026.
The governor said his decision followed disagreements with Wamalwa over the direction of DAP-K, particularly his proposal to transform the party into a broader national political movement.
“I requested Hon. Eugene Wamalwa to grant me the opportunity to expand DAP-K into a broader national movement. Unfortunately, he declined. Consequently, I have no other option but to quit,” Natembeya said.
Natembeya's announcement came days after he hosted Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement at his home in Trans Nzoia.
Reports at the time said Natembeya intended to seek a second term as governor while supporting Sifuna's presidential ambitions.
The development effectively placed Natembeya on a different political path from Wamalwa ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Wamalwa disputed Natembeya's exit
Despite Natembeya publicly announcing his departure, Wamalwa later disputed the claim that the governor had formally left DAP-K.
In July, Wamalwa maintained that Natembeya remained the party's deputy leader because he had not received formal communication of his resignation.
“Natembeya has not left the DAP-K party,” Wamalwa said, according to People Daily.
The contrasting positions exposed the depth of the political disagreement between the two leaders and raised questions over how DAP-K would approach the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial contest.
Wamalwa had already indicated that he was prepared to field a candidate against Natembeya if the governor pursued his political ambitions outside the party.
That threat now takes on added significance following Wanyonyi's entry into the race.
Andrew Wanyonyi enters the race
Wanyonyi's decision to seek the Trans Nzoia governorship gives the political contest a new dimension.
As Speaker of the county assembly, Wanyonyi has already held a prominent position within the county's political leadership.
His announcement comes as Natembeya seeks another term after winning the governorship on a DAP-K ticket in the 2022 General Election.
Wamalwa's decision to publicly welcome Wanyonyi's bid is therefore likely to attract attention, particularly because of the political history between the DAP-K leader and the incumbent governor.
However, Wamalwa's latest statement does not expressly state that Wanyonyi has been selected as DAP-K's official gubernatorial candidate.
For now, what is publicly established is that Wamalwa has described Wanyonyi's entry into the race and offered him his support and goodwill.
A battle beyond the governor's seat
The emerging Trans Nzoia contest is also becoming part of the wider political realignment taking place in Western Kenya ahead of 2027.
Natembeya's departure from DAP-K followed his disagreement with Wamalwa and his growing association with the Linda Mwananchi camp.
At the same time, Wamalwa has continued to defend DAP-K's position and political structures in the region.
The dispute has consequently moved beyond an internal party disagreement and into a contest over who will control political influence in Trans Nzoia.
Natembeya wants to retain the governor's seat.
Wanyonyi is now entering the race.
And Wamalwa has publicly welcomed his bid.
2027 Trans Nzoia governor race heats up
The latest development adds another name to a gubernatorial contest that is expected to attract significant political attention as the 2027 General Election approaches.
For Natembeya, the challenge is now taking shape against the backdrop of his break with the party on whose ticket he won the governorship in 2022.
For Wamalwa, Wanyonyi's entry provides a new political figure in the county at a time when DAP-K's relationship with the incumbent governor has broken down.
Whether Wanyonyi will eventually become DAP-K's official candidate remains to be established.
But Wamalwa's latest public appearance has already added a new layer to the political contest.
The question now is whether Andrew Wanyonyi can turn his entry into a serious challenge to Natembeya — and whether the Wamalwa-Natembeya political fallout will ultimately reshape the race for the Trans Nzoia governor's seat in 2027.
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