Barchok–Ruto Pact Reshapes UDA Power Play in Bomet.
By Festus Ronoh | Bomet County,
A rare political handshake between Bomet Governor Prof. Hillary Barchok and former Governor Isaac Ruto is redefining the balance of power within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in Bomet County, signalling an early realignment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The two leaders, once operating in separate political lanes, have agreed to work together, pledging to mobilise their supporters to jointly campaign for each other during the upcoming UDA party nominations. Their alliance comes at a time when internal divisions threaten to fracture the party’s dominance in the county.
Bomet has long been considered a UDA stronghold, making the party ticket a near-guaranteed pathway to elective office. But beneath that dominance, rival factions have been quietly consolidating influence — a rivalry now playing out openly between camps aligned to Senator Wakili Hillary Sigei and those backing Governor Barchok.
At the heart of the fallout is a simmering dispute over accountability. Senator Sigei has consistently pushed for scrutiny of the county government, raising concerns over alleged corruption and demanding transparency. Governor Barchok, however, has dismissed these efforts as politically motivated, branding them a witch-hunt designed to weaken him ahead of his anticipated bid for the Bomet senatorial seat in 2027.
Insiders say the governor’s decision to partner with Isaac Ruto is a calculated move. Though out of elective office, the former governor retains a formidable grassroots network built during his tenure and earlier political battles. That network, political observers argue, could prove decisive in countering Senator Sigei’s growing influence within UDA ranks.
Supporters allied to Team Barchok believe the recent UDA grassroots elections have already tilted the scales in their favour. Delegates elected during Saturday’s polls are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of the party nominations, which many see as the real contest in Bomet’s political landscape.
Within Team Barchok, confidence is high that these delegates will rally behind Prof. Barchok’s senatorial ambitions while backing Isaac Ruto’s bid for governor — a pairing that could present a formidable front both during the nominations and in the general election.
The alliance was formally unveiled during a thanksgiving ceremony held at a hotel in Bomet town following the grassroots polls. The event, attended by leaders and supporters from both camps, was as much a show of unity as it was a display of political muscle. Notably, both factions claimed to have secured the majority of delegates, highlighting just how fiercely contested the internal party struggle has become.
As UDA grapples with managing competing interests in one of its strongest counties, the Barchok–Ruto pact underscores a broader reality: in Bomet, party loyalty alone is no longer enough. Strategic alliances, grassroots control, and early mobilisation are fast becoming the currency of political survival — and the race for 2027 has effectively begun.
