DAP-K Bets on Ideas Over Handouts as Steve Biko Wafula Takes Bungoma Chairmanship

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. This move signals a deliberate shift toward 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.

Steve 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. Steve Biko has consistently argued that Kenya’s governance failures are not accidental but electoral — the result of voters prioritising short-term generosity over long-term competence. That framing is now likely to shape DAP-K’s messaging across Bungoma.

Party insiders say Steve 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, 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.

As the road to 2027 begins to take shape, Bungoma County is likely to become a testing ground for whether idea-centred politics can translate into electoral success. Steve Biko Wafula’s dual role — as County Chairman and parliamentary aspirant — will be closely watched, not just by rivals, but by a generation of voters asking a harder question than before: not who is generous, but who is competent enough to govern.

Read Also: The New Dawn of Webuye West: A Manifesto for Industry, Dignity, and Prosperity: Why Steve Biko Wafula Is Best Suited To Lead Webuye West As It’s MP