Former Kisii County Secretary Patrick Lumumba is emerging as a figure to watch in the increasingly competitive Kisii's Kitutu Chache South parliamentary race, bringing into the contest public-sector experience, business management acumen and a record of supporting education opportunities for local students.
Lumumba is positioning himself to challenge incumbent MP Anthony Kibagendi as several aspirants begin testing the political waters ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also touted to be in the race is Kevin Aruasa, a Nairobi based trader.
Aruasa was coronated by elders from his village but little has been heard from since then.
Largely known for flamboyance, the trader often tags along Kisii Governor Simba Arati in events in the constituency.
Lumumba is reportedly setting sights on the United Democratic Alliance ticket.
In Kitutu Chache South, Lumumba's scholarship initiative has earned him goodwill among a section of residents, particularly parents who say assistance with school fees has helped several young people remain in school.
“For a parent struggling to raise school fees, having someone come in to support a child can make a huge difference. We appreciate what Lumumba has done for these students,” John Onchari a parent said.
Thomas Asati a resident said the scholarships had demonstrated the importance of investing in young people.
“Education is the foundation of development. If our children are supported to complete school, the whole community benefits,” he said.
But education is not the only issue residents are raising as Lumumba's political profile grows.
A section of residents say the condition of roads remains one of their biggest frustrations and want the next MP to make road improvement a central development priority.
“Our roads have become a major problem. During the rains, some areas become difficult to access, while transport costs go up. We want a leader who will make roads a priority,” Grace Kerandi stated.
She said the constituency needed a stronger push for road projects connecting residential areas, farms, markets and schools.
“We are not asking for miracles. We want passable roads and proper planning. If Lumumba wants our support, he should tell us clearly how he intends to address the road problem,” she said.
The road question has in fact been raised publicly by Kibagendi himself.
In a 2024 National Assembly debate, the MP said Kitutu Chache South had been unfairly treated in the allocation of tarmacking projects and noted that, apart from the Kisumu highway, the constituency had historically not received a tarmacked road.
That gives the roads issue an unusual political dimension: it is not simply an opposition talking point but an infrastructure concern that has also been acknowledged by the incumbent in Parliament.
Lumumba's supporters believe his background in administration and business gives him a different profile as the race takes shape.
They point to his engagement with education and community initiatives as evidence of his interest in local development.
For Lumumba, however, the political challenge will be translating such goodwill into an organised constituency-wide campaign.
For Kibagendi, who remains the sitting MP, the emerging contest could put his record under renewed scrutiny as residents assess competing claims on education, roads, youth opportunities and economic development.
Parliament's current records identify Kibagendi as the MP for Kitutu Chache South.
With the field still fluid, the race is likely to evolve considerably in the months ahead. But as more aspirants enter the conversation, Lumumba is steadily building a profile around management, education support and the promise of tackling infrastructure challenges—issues that could become central to the 2027 contest.
