The Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) has opened a new political chapter in Bungoma County following the appointment of Steve Biko Wafula as its County Chairman.
Biko is a Nairobi based entrepreneur and a Webuye West constituency contender who has tried several times without success.
This is a calculative move that signals a deliberate shift towards issue-driven politics ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The decision places one of the county’s most outspoken policy thinkers at the centre of DAP-K’s grassroots and strategic reorganisation.
Biko’s elevation is not occurring in isolation. It is closely tied to his declared ambition to contest the Webuye West parliamentary seat, a constituency that has long mirrored a broader national pattern:
Energetic campaigns, weak legislative outcomes, and a widening gap between political promises and lived realities.
By combining county-level party leadership with constituency-level ambition, Steve Biko is positioning himself as both a political organiser and a policy standard-bearer.
From a strategic standpoint, DAP-K appears to be backing a chairman whose political brand is anchored in civic education, economic literacy, and institutional accountability rather than populism.
Biko has consistently argued that Kenya’s governance failures are not accidental but electoral — the result of voters prioritizing short-term generosity over long-term competence. That framing is now likely to shape DAP-K’s messaging across Bungoma.
Party insiders say Biko’s chairmanship is expected to professionalise DAP-K’s county structures, sharpen its ideological clarity, and improve candidate quality.
The emphasis is on preparing leaders who understand legislation, budgeting, and oversight — critical functions often ignored in constituency politics but decisive in determining development outcomes.
For a county whose youth population is both politically active and economically frustrated, this approach could prove consequential.
Indeed, youth mobilisation is emerging as a defining feature of Wafula’s leadership. Analysts note that Bungoma’s young people are increasingly sceptical of handout-based politics and more receptive to leaders who speak directly to issues of employment, taxation, education, and cost of living.
Steve Biko’s appeal among this demographic lies in his ability to translate abstract policy debates into everyday economic consequences — a skill that gives him unusual influence in shaping political conversations.
For DAP-K whose party leader is Hon.Eugene Wamalwa, the political calculus is clear. By entrusting Bungoma’s party leadership to a figure with media presence, analytical depth, and national discourse visibility, the party strengthens its credibility both locally and beyond.
The move also suggests that DAP-K is positioning itself as a refuge for voters disillusioned with personality-driven politics but still hungry for structured alternatives.
The previous Chairman has been Bishop Chris Makokha from Chesikaki ward in Mt Elgon who was allegedly axed based on the party’s internal wrangles.
