By James Okoth.
Why UDA Is Not Fielding a Gubernatorial Candidate in Kisumu
As Kenya heads toward the 2027 General Election, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has taken a calculated approach to regions with strong political identities. Kisumu, long considered an ODM stronghold, is one such county.
Party insiders say the decision not to field a gubernatorial candidate is both strategic and symbolic. UDA is focusing on building partnerships and consolidating national development gains rather than engaging in a costly contest it is unlikely to win.
Talks within the Kenya Kwanza Coalition have revolved around zoning, an informal understanding that allows partners to avoid direct competition in each other’s dominant regions. In Kisumu, this aligns with UDA’s broader strategy of fostering cooperation instead of confrontation.
The move is also seen as an effort to build goodwill and open dialogue with local leadership in Nyanza, where the ruling coalition seeks to expand its development footprint. By staying out of the gubernatorial race, UDA creates room for collaboration with county leaders who share its focus on growth and service delivery.
Politically, it sends a clear message—that development, not rivalry, will define engagement between the national government and Kisumu County. It also allows leaders such as Dr. Mathew Owili to partner with the President’s team in advancing the region’s transformation agenda.
Analysts view the strategy as pragmatic, signalling a shift toward results-driven politics rather than personality-driven contests.
A New Chapter in Kisumu’s Development Story
Kisumu’s transformation entered a new phase this morning when Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili met President William Samoei Ruto, PhD, for a consultative discussion on the county’s economic and infrastructure priorities.
The meeting underscored a growing reality that Kisumu’s future lies in collaboration between the county and national governments. President Ruto reaffirmed his commitment to positioning Kisumu as a strategic economic and transport hub, a move set to reshape the region’s fortunes.
Central to this plan is the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to Malaba. The 269-kilometre line, 83 kilometres of which will pass through Kisumu, will boost trade, improve logistics and link local producers to regional markets.
In March, the President is expected to preside over its groundbreaking, a moment that will anchor Kisumu’s role as a logistics and industrial gateway to East and Central Africa.
For Dr. Owili, the meeting was more than administrative. It sent a political message of partnership, one that emphasises shared goals over partisanship.
Over the past year, the Deputy Governor has helped drive key projects, including Makasembo Affordable Housing Phase I, Kanyakwar Phase II and the ongoing Anderson and Lumumba estates.
These initiatives, valued at KSh 44 billion, will deliver 14,000 housing units, modern markets, student hostels for over 10,000 learners and more than 15,000 jobs. They represent a model of effective collaboration between the county and the national government.
Beyond housing, Kisumu has seen major infrastructure investments, including KSh 5 billion for roads, KSh 950 million for Moi Stadium’s modernisation and KSh 3 billion to upgrade Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to Level Six. An additional KSh 500 million has been allocated for a Cancer Centre at the facility.
Dr. Owili’s approach is marked by pragmatism and partnership. He has worked to align Kisumu’s priorities with national goals, ensuring that projects receive both funding and technical support.
His recent meeting with President Ruto reflects that alignment in a deliberate shift towards issue-based collaboration. It also cements his growing image as a leader who can bridge the national and county divide for the sake of development.
Owili has continued to champion the unity of the two factions in the ODM party, calling for dialogue and unity ahead of the party’s negotiations on partnerships, warning that the party has no alternative.
“We must unite as ODM, without which we cannot unite the country,” he said at a past press briefing. “We can only table a strong, convincing argument on partnerships and coalition talks if we move forward as a strong, united party.”
The same sentiments were echoed by the party’s pioneer Secretary-General and Kisumu Governor, Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, during the burial of Felix Okoth’s four children, who drowned in an abandoned quarry in Kanyakwar.
“As a founding member of ODM and the party’s pioneer Secretary-General; policies and principles custodian, I urge unity and mutual respect within the party ranks,” Nyong’o said. “The party leadership and members have to remain steadfast in the party’s core values of democracy, inclusivity and social justice for the people.”
As Kenya’s political landscape evolves, Kisumu is emerging as a model of what cooperative politics can achieve. The Deputy Governor’s calm but firm style has helped steer the county away from divisive politics towards tangible progress.
With the SGR project breaking ground and major investments underway, Kisumu’s transformation is gathering pace.
At the heart of this new dawn stands Dr. Mathew Owili as the bridge between vision and delivery, and the face of continuity in Kisumu’s unfolding development story.
