Undated photos circulating online have renewed attention on past allegations involving Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, a controversy that previously emerged in connection with claims of alleged rituals ahead of the 2022 gubernatorial election.
Several photographs showing a man appearing to resemble Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa in the company of a person dressed as a traditional healer have resurfaced online, sparking fresh discussion among Kenyans.
The images appear to show the man standing indoors while wearing only shorts, with what appears to be a red object around his abdomen.
In another photograph, he is seen alongside a man dressed in dark clothing and wearing what looks like traditional or ceremonial attire.
However, the identity of the man in the photographs cannot be independently established from the images alone, and the photographs should therefore not be treated as proof that Governor Barasa was performing rituals.
The images are linked to allegations that first attracted widespread attention in March 2024, when a man accused of attempting to extort money from Barasa was arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts.
How the controversy started
According to reports published at the time, William Simiyu Matere, alias Elijah, was arrested and charged with offences relating to an alleged extortion scheme involving the Kakamega governor.
Kenya Insights reported that prosecutors alleged Matere and others had demanded hundreds of millions of shillings from Barasa and that material allegedly connected to a purported encounter between the governor and a traditional healer was being used in the alleged extortion scheme.
Other reports similarly linked the controversy to allegations that Barasa had sought spiritual intervention during the 2022 election campaign.
Several Blogs reported that the alleged encounter with the traditional healer took place during the 2022 campaign period.
Importantly, these were allegations reported in connection with an extortion case, rather than a court finding that Barasa had used witchcraft or that the photographs proved such claims.
Barasa’s 2022 election victory
The controversy gained additional political attention because it emerged after Barasa had won the Kakamega gubernatorial election.
Barasa, then running on an ODM ticket, defeated his closest challenger, Cleophas Malala.
Citizen Digital earlier reported that Barasa received 192,929 votes, compared with Malala’s 159,508 votes.
He subsequently took office in September 2022, succeeding former governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
In March 2024, Malala called for investigations into the allegations surrounding the election, with reports indicating that he wanted the 2022 gubernatorial results examined in light of the claims.
Photos resurface as Barasa eyes 2027
The renewed circulation of the photographs comes as Barasa prepares for another major political contest.
The governor has publicly positioned himself for a second term in the 2027 General Election.
The Standard reported in May 2026 that Barasa was focusing on completing stalled projects inherited from the previous administration while positioning himself for another term.
The political environment in Kakamega has nevertheless remained active, with different leaders and political groups taking varying positions on the governor’s administration.
In September 2026, the Kenya News Agency reported that Barasa was also involved in wider political discussions ahead of the 2027 election, including debate surrounding the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and preparations for the next polls.
The images trigger online reactions
The photographs have now become the centre of renewed online speculation, with some social media users connecting them to the allegations that emerged in 2024.
The images themselves, however, provide limited context about when or where they were taken, and they do not independently establish what was happening during the encounter.
The earlier controversy was particularly significant because the man accused in the extortion case was alleged to have possessed material that prosecutors said was being used to demand money from Barasa.
The accused denied the charges and was released on bond, according to reports at the time.
What the photos actually show
The attached photographs show:
- A man resembling Governor Fernandes Barasa standing indoors in shorts.
- What appears to be a red object positioned around his abdomen.
- Another man dressed in dark clothing and wearing distinctive headgear.
- A separate image showing the same or similar-looking man seated or standing in a formal setting in a suit, which has been circulated as a comparison image.
The comparison photograph may explain why social media users have identified the man in the earlier images as Barasa.
Nevertheless, visual resemblance is not sufficient to independently verify a person’s identity.
As the images continue circulating, the key distinction remains between what is visible in the photographs, what was alleged in the 2024 extortion case, and what has actually been established through official proceedings.
For now, the photographs have reignited a controversy that first made headlines more than two years ago, even as Governor Barasa continues his political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
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