By Habil Onyango
As the country prepares for the General Elections on August 10, 2027, prospective candidates are intensifying their campaign efforts to ensure electoral success.
Many leaders, including presidential aspirants, have begun mobilising resources and reaching out to voters as the much-anticipated election date approaches.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), official campaign activities are scheduled to begin on May 29 and will conclude on August 7, 2027, just 48 hours before Election Day.
In a bid to establish a robust grassroots campaign, Silas Jakakimba, a parliamentary aspirant for Suba North, has appointed Mary Oketch – a communication consultant – as the head of his Parliamentary Campaign Contact and Chief Strategist for team “Dayat.”
Jakakimba, who previously served as the Personal Assistant to the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has popularised the Luo slogan “Dayat nyaka loki,” which translates to “Diet must be changed.”
This slogan embodies a grassroots movement in Suba North aimed at the urgent implementation of a new Development Software and Leadership Impetus essential for advancing the constituency’s growth and overall development.
“I, John Silas Jakakimba, a parliamentary aspirant for Suba North Constituency in Homa Bay County, Republic of Kenya, hereby appoint Mary Oketch as my Parliamentary Campaign Contact and Chief Focal Strategist for team ‘Dayat nyaka loki,'” Jakakimba announced.
He emphasised that Oketch will be directly responsible for the overall planning, coordination, management, and execution of his campaign activities as the team gets underway.
Her responsibilities will include overseeing the development and implementation of team “Dayat’s” campaign strategies, coordinating grassroots volunteers, managing communications and media engagement, and handling stakeholder interactions with relevant political party officials and election agencies.
“This appointment reflects my complete confidence in Mary to lead our Suba North initiatives with professionalism, integrity, attention to detail, and the dedication necessary for a successful electoral outcome across all five wards of Suba North – Lambwe, Gembe, Kasgunga, Rusinga Island, and Mfangano Island – by August 2027,” Jakakimba noted.
“Mary will lead a strong, committed campaign team and will be entirely responsible for the overall planning, coordination, management, and execution of my parliamentary campaigns and related activities as we hit the ground running,” he added in a press statement.
“Her extensive professional expertise, ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds, involvement in successful political campaigns, and leadership experience will be invaluable.”
Jakakimba, who will be running under the UDA flag, currently serves as the Secretary General of the Homa Bay Party branch. He is preparing to face off against the current MP, Millie Odhiambo of ODM, should he secure the party nomination from May 29 to June 11, 2027.
Zoning Standoff
The push for political zoning forms part of a broader and complex political alignment across Western Kenya and Nyanza, where different parties are competing for dominance, voter turnout, and coalition leverage ahead of the elections.
Currently, ODM and UDA are in a Broad-Based Government ahead of the upcoming General Elections, with both parties making demands to support President William Ruto’s re-election campaign.
Jakakimba’s decision to run for the Suba North Constituency, situated within Homa Bay County, comes amid calls for zoning, particularly within ODM strongholds.
UDA has made significant strides in Homa Bay, likely challenging ODM candidates and others in the upcoming elections.
“We have established offices across the county, in addition to recruiting members and setting up organisational structures with key figures,” said Silas Jakakimba.
He added that the perceived fear among some ODM leaders in the county might be motivating their calls for zoning, while others oppose the proposal.
Homa Bay Governor and ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga strongly supports zoning, asserting that it protects party territories and prevents UDA from unseating loyalist candidates.
Wanga, along with other ODM dignitaries, argues that to ensure Ruto’s re-election, UDA should refrain from fielding candidates in areas currently held by ODM.
Moreover, they demand that positions resulting from any agreement be divided on a 50-50 basis, including a request for the Deputy President position if Ruto runs for the presidency.
Wanga emphasised the importance of securing Homa Bay’s political landscape for the ODM party.
Wanga argues that Homa Bay is an ODM stronghold and asserts that they will not allow any other political party to gain a foothold in the region. She has declared that the county, along with the broader Nyanza region, is firmly an ODM area and that they will not tolerate opposition, specifically warning against UDA’s infiltration.
Wanga emphasised that any coalition agreement with UDA must include a clear zoning formula that ensures ODM receives a fair and respectable number of seats in regions where it has significant support.
However, Jakakimba believes that ODM leaders should shift their focus towards issue-based grassroots politics. His call serves as a sharp pushback against those ODM leaders who advocate for territorial divisions to exclude UDA.
Jakakimba has however publicly criticised Luo Nyanza MPs for their “selfish” political zoning aimed at stifling competition. He insists that voters should have the right to choose individual leaders based on merit rather than party directives.
