By Anderson Ojwang
Former Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo cobbled together a credible and viable political vehicle and team for President William Ruto and his United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Owalo, once one of Ruto’s key pillars in Nyanza, marshalled a functional, mature and politically experienced team that rivalled ODM in Nyanza.
Through Owalo, President Ruto and UDA were fast gaining acceptance and membership in Nyanza, a predominantly ODM region and the turf of the late Raila Amolo Odinga.
When Owalo was CS, he also doubled as the Deputy Patron of Gor Mahia, deputising Raila, which endeared him to Nyanza and the community.
The former Cabinet Secretary’s brand of politics did not antagonise the ODM leadership of the late Raila Odinga but concentrated on opening up the political space for Ruto and UDA.
Owalo went for the seasoned, experienced and respected political class in Nyanza who had political structures within and outside the region.
The team
Owalo’s team comprised former elected leaders and over 100 professionals from the region, who met regularly and spearheaded the first Nyanza Economic Investment Forum held in Kisumu.
From Migori County were immediate former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, former MPs John Pesa, Pamela Odhiambo and Omondi Anyanga.
In the 2022 gubernatorial election, Pesa came second to ODM’s Chilo Ayacko. Pesa received 36 per cent of the votes cast, accounting for 126,171 votes against Ayacko’s 1756,126 votes.
In Nyatike, Omondi Anyanga got 13,967 votes, accounting for 29 per cent, against ODM’s Tom Odege’s 25,069 votes.
From Homa Bay were former Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero, former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo, Betty Adera and Odoyo Owidi.
In the 2022 General Election, Kidero received 152,182 votes, accounting for 39 per cent, against ODM’s Gladys Wanga, who won with 244,559 votes, accounting for 61 per cent.
In Kisumu were former Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, Nyakach MP Ochieng Daima, Amb. Fred Outa, former Kisumu Woman Representative Rose Nyamunga, Miguna Miguna and former Kisumu County Majority Leader Samwel Ongou.
Governor Ranguma received 100,600 votes, accounting for 26 per cent, against Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o’s 319,957 votes, accounting for 71 per cent.
Currently, Ranguma is ranked as one of the top gubernatorial candidates, and he has already reactivated his political structures and is likely to win the election.
In Siaya, Owalo brought on board former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, former Gem MP Joe Donde and the late former Kisumu West MP Ken Nyagudi.
In the 2022 election, Gumbo got 147,338 votes, accounting for 39.4 per cent, against ODM’s James Orengo’s 200,349 votes, accounting for 58.9 per cent.
From the data, the Owalo team braved the ODM and Raila wave to post a credible performance, and with the demise of the latter and the emerging new political dispensation, they cannot be wished away.
Frozen out
After Owalo’s resignation from Ruto’s government to contest for the presidency, the team was left in limbo and somehow frozen out of the President’s functions in Nyanza.
Access to the President and his functions became minimal, and they were left to dry out without any engagement.
Some of them who were appointed to various posts were either terminated or had their contracts left unrenewed.
Despite the political cold, the team has remained committed to supporting President Ruto’s re-election.
Most of those who will be seeking various political seats have rolled out high-profile campaigns and are riding high.
Nondescript
Currently, the President has identified a new team that coalesces around PS Raymond Omollo. The little-known politicians are yet to cut their teeth in political circles and could find themselves swept away by the emerging political wave of Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, the Mwananchi Party, Orengo’s LDP and ODM.
The majority of these people are political nondescripts and may struggle to deliver votes, let alone win political seats.
They will struggle and have minimal ratings among the electorate as they lack political constituencies and are viewed as political lightweights in the larger political trajectory.
Loyal to Ruto
Former Nyakach MP Daima said they have remained committed and loyal to Ruto’s cause, as they had made a conscious decision to support him from the beginning.
“After Owalo left the government, we have remained and continue to support Ruto, but we have been least engaged and are often left out of the President’s functions in the region,” he said.
Daima said the changing political realignments had left them in the cold despite their commitment to the President’s cause.
Apathy
President Ruto may face perennial voter apathy in Nyanza in the absence of the loyalists in his campaign train.
Some of the loyalists’ supporters may decide not to vote, and this could be a double blow to President Ruto as he looks at Nyanza as one of his backbones in next year’s presidential election.
Daima said the Owalo team made tremendous achievements and gave President Ruto an image and identity in the region.
“Owalo brought over 100 professionals into the group. Within and without the government. We crafted strategies for President Ruto, and I am proud of our work,” he said.
Resignation
Owalo stepped down from his position as Deputy Chief of Staff for Delivery and Government Efficiency, citing his presidential ambitions in the 2027 General Elections.
The government official announced his immediate resignation after publicly declaring his intention to contest against incumbent President William Ruto.
“Following my declaration earlier today that I intend to run for Presidency of the Republic of Kenya in the year 2027, my position as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Delivery and Government Efficiency is no longer tenable. I have therefore resigned from the position with immediate effect,” Owalo wrote in a social media post.
