By Wuod Germany

George Ayugi, popularly known as Mbuta, is taking his campaign for the Kisumu East parliamentary seat to the grassroots, engaging residents on education, infrastructure and economic empowerment ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Mbuta, considered a close ally of President William Ruto, is seeking to contest the seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, with his campaign centred on community engagement and development.

The aspirant has been visiting schools, interacting with residents and encouraging learners preparing for national examinations. During one such visit, Mbuta joined teachers in prayer for the candidates’ success, offering words of encouragement as they prepared for the tests.

For Mbuta, the campaign is an opportunity to strengthen his connection with residents and understand the challenges facing households across the constituency.

“Leadership is not just about holding an office or carrying a title,” Mbuta has told supporters, emphasising the need for leaders to work closely with the people they seek to represent.

Mbuta says his priorities include improving access to educational resources, supporting schoolchildren with uniforms, advocating better local infrastructure and creating economic opportunities for women and young people.

His approach places education and livelihoods at the centre of his bid, with Mbuta arguing that residents need practical opportunities to improve their living standards.

“We are embarking on a journey together to transform our constituency into a place of true opportunity,” Mbuta told supporters during a grassroots engagement.

Mbuta has also sought to rally local support behind President Ruto’s second-term bid, pointing to development projects initiated by the administration.

He maintains that continued investment in development would help communities and improve livelihoods.