Bungoma Governor Kenneth Makelo Lusaka is no ordinary politician. A man whose career has weathered multiple political seasons—from his formative years in the KANU system, to shaping policy under the Kibaki administration, steering the Senate as Speaker during Jubilee, and now firmly in charge of Bungoma County—Lusaka has mastered the art of politics and governance. His story is one of shrewd maneuvering, administrative acumen, and deep connection with both the powers-that-be and the ordinary wananchi.
What makes Lusaka stand out is not just his experience but his results. In Bungoma, he is credited with transforming early childhood education into a model for the country. His administration has permanently employed 115 ECDE teachers and rolled out a scheme of service to professionalize the sector. In 2017, he boldly put 2,000 teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, a game-changing move that continues to uplift education standards. Beyond staffing, Lusaka has cracked down on substandard ECD projects to guarantee quality, while also investing Ksh30 million into a school feeding programme that delivers fortified porridge—widely believed to be the reason behind Bungoma’s sharp rise in early childhood enrolments.
His firm hand in administration is legendary. “The boss only wants to hear of service delivery. He has no ears for failures,” a senior county official confided, underscoring his no-nonsense approach. Inefficient officers have been reshuffled without hesitation, cementing his reputation as a results-driven leader.
Infrastructure has also taken centre stage. From improved feeder roads linking markets and schools, to lighting masts enhancing 24/7 security for traders in Chwele, Lusaka’s development blueprint is visible in everyday life. Health centres too have been upgraded and stocked with medicines, winning him admiration across the county.
But Lusaka’s influence goes well beyond Bungoma. As chair of the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB), he has emerged as the face of regional economic integration. He has mobilised investment conferences, chaired high-level meetings with governors from Nyanza, Western, and North Rift, and co-hosted the Nyanza International Investment Conference in Kisumu—attended by Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki. There, alongside Siaya Governor James Orengo—his relative by marriage—and other lake region leaders, Lusaka unveiled negotiations with key industry players to fast-track Vision 2030 dreams for the bloc.
At the Devolution Exhibition in Homa Bay, presided over jointly by President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, Lusaka further proved his stature as a unifying figure capable of navigating Kenya’s sharp political divides while keeping focus on economic transformation.
Political pundits note that Lusaka has never backed a losing side in politics, a testament to his instincts as a master schemer. With corruption scandals of past regimes under investigation, he has reinforced a culture of integrity and accountability in Bungoma—an image that endears him to wananchi who now casually refer to him as “our development governor.”
Loved at the grassroots and respected in the corridors of power, Lusaka is already being tipped for a senior Cabinet or national position once he completes his second and final term. “He is a leader who carries the bull by its horns,” says a local analyst.
For now, the “bull” Lusaka is holding tightly is the twin task of steering Bungoma to greater heights while consolidating the Lake Region as an economic powerhouse. Whether on the dusty feeder roads of Sirisia or at the high tables of national policy, Governor Kenneth Makelo Lusaka stands out as a rare blend of political shrewdness and people-centred leadership—universally loved and impossible to ignore.
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