While the 2027 general elections remain a year away, the race for Webuye West is already being defined by more than just campaign posters. For businessman and parliamentary hopeful Lendrix Waswa, the strategy for transformation begins not on a podium, but in the classroom.
Over the weekend at Sirisia Bok Primary School, Waswa moved beyond political rhetoric to tangible action, overseeing the distribution of school uniforms and essentials to over 5,000 learners. The initiative specifically targets Grade 1 through Grade 6, a demographic Waswa identifies as the “vulnerability gap” in the current education system.
Waswa, who rose from a humble background to head successful ventures in micro-lending, insurance, and private security, framed the donation as a matter of confidence and dignity.
“Many cases of absenteeism are rooted in the lack of basic necessities,” Waswa noted. “By prioritizing Grade 1 to 6, we ensure children start their journey with a sense of belonging. It eases the burden on parents and strengthens retention as they transition to senior schools.”
The pilot program is currently rolling out across the constituency’s wards, starting with Misikhu and Bokoli, with Matulo and Sitikho slated for the next phase.
Waswa is positioning himself as a candidate who doesn’t wait for a public office budget to effect change. He revealed that he consistently reinvests profits from his private enterprises into his community foundation to fund healthcare through free medical camps for elderly and low-income residents, agriculture by constructing cattle dips to safeguard livestock which is a primary economic driver in Webuye West and mobility by distributing of wheelchairs to persons with disabilities.
The seat is currently held by Dan Wanyama, a UDA seasoned politician. While Waswa has yet to declare his party affiliation, his platform is built on a best bet promise, if elected, he intends to implement a universal free education policy for all day schools and significantly increase bursary allocations.
Despite the looming face-off with the incumbent, Waswa insists these efforts are not “political gimmicks” but a long-term commitment to human capital. “Health is wealth, and a healthy, educated population is the only key to development,” he emphasized.
As the political heat rises, the residents of Webuye West are watching a different kind of campaign, one where the “manifesto” is being delivered in the form of uniforms, medicine, and infrastructure long before the first ballot is cast.
