There is a quiet shift this Labour Day. It is not celebration, but reflection and frustration. The payslip has changed meaning. What once signified dignity and reward now reads like a list of deductions. For many workers, income no longer supports a stable life. It only sustains survival.
This moment forces a difficult conversation about leadership and accountability. At the center stands Francis Atwoli, a figure who has led the labour movement across multiple political eras. Longevity can signal experience, but it also raises questions when outcomes decline. Today, those questions are unavoidable.
The cost of living continues to rise. Fuel prices affect transport and food, stretching household budgets. Yet wages have not kept pace. Workers earn the same, but afford far less. Real income is shrinking, and families must constantly adjust just to get by. Stability has quietly given way to uncertainty.
Healthcare, once a pillar of worker protection, is now uncertain. The Social Health Authority promised universal coverage, but concerns about financial integrity have shaken confidence. Reports of irregularities and fraudulent claims raise serious doubts. Workers continue to contribute, yet the assurance of reliable care feels fragile.
Housing reflects a similar contradiction. The housing levy collects significant funds, yet many contributors see little benefit. Questions around transparency and slow delivery persist. When workers sacrifice part of their income, they expect results. Delays and unclear processes deepen frustration.
At the same time, taxation weighs heavily on the payslip. Multiple deductions leave workers with reduced take home pay. In a stable economy this might be manageable, but combined with rising costs it becomes overwhelming. Workers are contributing more while experiencing less.
The private sector is also under strain. Businesses face high costs and policy uncertainty, leading to layoffs, hiring freezes, and closures. Job security is weakening, and opportunities for young people are shrinking. Economic anxiety is spreading across the workforce.
These challenges point to a broader trust deficit. Workers question governance and accountability when funds linked to their contributions are flagged for mismanagement. They ask who is responsible and whether systems truly serve them.
Labour leadership should defend workers, yet many feel that voice has softened. It appears too aligned with power instead of firmly representing workers’ interests. The question now is whether leadership can still respond to present realities.
Labour Day should celebrate progress and fair wages. Instead, it exposes deeper systemic issues. The shrinking payslip has become a symbol of economic strain and lost confidence.
Recognition without reform is not enough. Workers are asking for fairness, transparency, and leadership that delivers. Until then, the call for change will only grow louder.
Several leaders within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have taken different sides on the issue of zoning, especially in the party’s strongholds.
Many have expressed their views either supporting or opposing the agenda, which aims to prevent the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) from fielding their candidates in those strongholds in the 2027 general elections.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo seems to have struck a nerve when she declared that she does not support the zoning agenda and urged that every party be allowed to field candidates anywhere across the country.
The zoning agenda is championed by ODM’s top leadership, led by Party leader Oburu Oginga and National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, who also serves as the Governor of Homa Bay.
ODM is currently divided into two factions: the Linda Ground team, which supports the Broad-Based Government and President William Ruto, led by Oburu and Wanga; and the Linda Mwananchi team, opposed to Ruto’s second term, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Senator James Orengo, and Embakasi legislator Babu Owino.
Millie has opposed the call for zoning, arguing that every party should be free to field candidates in any region, regardless of whether it is an ODM zone or not.
However, the call is seen by some as rooted in jealousy towards Wanga, who served as the Homa Bay Woman Representative for two terms before being elected as the second Governor of Homa Bay.
Millie accused some party leaders of sending “bloggers” to portray her as jealous of Wanga whenever she expresses a different opinion.
“I find it utterly amusing that when I express a view different from others in our party, then they send bloggers with a standard ‘you are jealous of Gladys Wanga’ comment,” she said.
“Other than the statement depicting intellectual deficiency, I wonder what you hope to achieve with it,” said the Minority Chief Whip in the National Assembly.
“If I am jealous of Wanga, and yet I am a superb leader, that is good. It shows that as a woman leader, she is doing exceedingly well — that’s a plus for women,” Millie added.
“Secondly, in your wildest dreams, you think I will not speak my mind just because you tell me I am jealous of Wanga? You’re joking,” Millie told those who oppose her views.
“I do not support zoning; let democracy prevail. We are in a Broad-Based Coalition with UDA. Let them field candidates anywhere. Let what we have achieved under our respective mandates be our defence,” Millie declared.
Millie, who will face former Raila’s Personal Assistant Silas Jakakimba of UDA for the Suba North parliamentary seat, created a hashtag #Iamjealousofwanga to use in her online posts.
However, Jakakimba said that the context of the zoning debate, as presented by his sister Millie, reflects her clear and seemingly irreconcilable differences with Wanga.
Jakakimba noted that Millie is playing it safe on one side, adding that the political terrain is unfavourable, which is why she is taking a hard stance against Wanga, knowing that the people of their constituency also oppose zoning.
“The ground ‘speaks’ a different language. Meanwhile, the context of the zoning debate presented by my sister Millie Mabona only reflects her outright and or seemingly irreconcilable differences with Wanga, ODM Chairperson, and she is also aware that the people of Suba North are opposed to the zoning agenda. Millie is playing safe on one side. The ground is not favourable, and she is playing it hard on Gladys. Dayat nyaka loki Suba North. The diet must be changed in Suba North 2027,” he said.
Tabitha Nyandiek, who vied for the Homa Bay Woman Representative seat in the last general elections, supported Millie’s sentiments.
According to Tabitha, whenever someone points out ODM or Homa Bay County’s failures, bloggers are unleashed to insult them.
She said that in 2022, she was physically attacked simply for saying that Wanga did not have enough experience to manage Homa Bay as governor. When someone speaks out, they are often labelled as jealous of Wanga.
“Millie Odhiambo has finally spoken out. Whenever someone points out the failures of ODM or Homa Bay County, bloggers are unleashed on you with insults,” she said.
Could there be a deliberate attempt by a section of some top leaders in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to undermine the office of the party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, and place his private office in disrepute?
The Thursday incident where some youths stormed the private office of Dr Oburu in Riverside to evict the Chief of Staff, Mr Michael Agwanda, and chased away the employees could be a pointer to a bigger war not only in the office but also in the Linda Ground faction of ODM.
Scared employees, who were recently employed by the party leader, scampered for safety while Agwanda was out of the office on an official function.
The youths looked to be under strict instructions to evict Agwanda and the newly recruited employees from the private office to allow a change of guards.
Interestingly, the alleged sacking of Agwanda was sent out on social media platforms by bloggers allied to a senior party official, while there was no official communication from Oburu’s office over the fate of Agwanda.
Agwanda dismissed the sacking, terming it a non-issue meant to create chaos and anarchy in the office.
“I was with the party leader in the morning, and we planned for the weekend and next week. I have not been sacked. You can see clearly the source of the information, and you can easily tell who is behind it,” he said.
Agwanda said his boss was the party leader and he had his reasons for the appointment, and he will continue to discharge his role as the Chief of Staff.
In one of the posts read: “OFFICIAL NOTICE: The Office of the Party Leader wishes to inform the public that Mr. Michael Agwanda has been relieved of his duties as Chief of Staff, with immediate effect. This decision follows established concerns regarding breaches of confidentiality and violations of the protocols governing the operations of the Office of the Party Leader. Mr. Agwanda is therefore no longer serving in any official capacity within the said office.”
Why is Agwanda being fought?
Agwanda has changed the management of the office and the party leader’s diary and programmes, which has enraged several MPs, party officials, and cartels who had unfettered access to the former party leader, the late Raila Odinga.
Currently, everyone is required to seek an appointment before one is able to meet Dr Oburu, and there is no loitering in the private office.
Similarly, Dr Oburu’s itinerary is well planned and coordinated, and he no longer attends impromptu functions. He currently has time to play golf, to be with family, and to engage in his personal duties.
And now infighting, power struggle, proximity, and direct access to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader are becoming a common feature at the Riverside Estate, the private office of Dr Oburu Oginga.
Dr Oburu, the party leader, finds himself in an unusual and unfamiliar situation as various forces fight over his attention, control of his diary, and itinerary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The action comes hot on the heels of a recent eviction threat to Agwanda from the office by Rangwe MP Dr Lilian Gogo, claiming Agwanda was a stranger.
“Governor Gladys Wanga, that show-cause letter you gave to Edwin Sifuna, I want it to be given to a son of Homa Bay. I don’t know whether he has gone? We can give him the show-cause letter. How can one represent the party leader as Chief of Staff while the MPs are here? How do you go to a function where the party chairperson is in attendance and you come here saying you want to represent the party leader? If it is for the joke, we will remove you from that office. I, Dr Lilian Achieng Gogo, have said it. We will remove you,” she said.
“The honeymoon is over. Will Oburu continue to play as pawn or the king? Will Winnie eventually wriggle her way into the ODM leadership?” she quipped.
Oburu shocked many when he settled on Agwanda, a close family friend, against the various senior former and current high-ranking government officials who had been proposed to him by some of the top officials in the party.
The proposal was meant to cage and control Oburu’s political move and keep him in check. Already, some quarters had wanted him to remove his son Elijah Oburu from his post of personal assistant. But Oburu and Elijah rebuffed the move.
Some of the disgruntled ODM leaders fear that Agwanda’s position as Chief of Staff will undermine their political plot ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It will be interesting to watch whether Agwanda will survive the political machinations in the ODM party or whether he will call it a day.
The overall picture is worrying, but it is being packaged as progress.
Take agriculture. Growth has dropped to 2.8% from 4.4%, yet this is presented as success because unga prices have fallen from about KSh 250 to roughly KSh 130. That narrative hides the deeper issue: production growth is slowing. Large-scale investments like Galana Kulalu appear stagnant or underperforming. Policy support works better than direct government participation, because when the State becomes a player, it crowds out private sector efficiency and ultimately suppresses growth.
Manufacturing tells the same story. Growth has slowed to 2% from 3%. With high input and energy costs, expansion is constrained. Instead of enabling cheaper production, the system sustains high costs, pushing jobs and opportunities elsewhere. While energy players may report strong profits, the broader economy absorbs the pain.
Transport and storage, at 3.7% down from 4.3%, reflects reduced economic activity. When production slows, movement slows, and jobs shrink. This sector is directly tied to manufacturing and agriculture, so its decline is not surprising.
Accommodation and food services show the sharpest drop, from 25.9% to 15.6%. This signals reduced consumer spending. High living costs mean fewer people are travelling, dining out, or engaging in discretionary spending. Households are cutting back.
ICT growth has fallen to 4.8% from 7.1%. Yet the success story presented is the digitization of over 12,000 government services. That is a political narrative, not an economic one. What matters to citizens is affordability, access, and efficiency. High costs limit uptake and slow real sector growth.
Finally, financial services and insurance growth has eased to 6.5% from 7.5%. This is happening even as the NSE performs strongly. The explanation lies in shifting liquidity. With increased government levies and lower absorption into productive spending, capital is being redirected into equities as an alternative. That movement is then framed as economic strength.
Across all sectors, one pattern emerges: the government is increasingly competing with the private sector instead of enabling it. The result is slower growth, reduced job creation, and an economy that is weakening beneath carefully managed narratives.
The numbers don’t lie. The story just changes depending on who is telling it.
Siaya is setting a precedent and a new political dispensation in the post-Raila Amolo Odinga era, with Governor James Orengo’s people’s cabinet getting a nod from the county assembly.
In the new dispensation, Orengo discarded an early power arrangement which was brokered by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Raila, Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga, and MPs from the county.
In the power arrangement, the MPs and elected leaders seconded their allies for appointments as either county executive committee members (CECs) or chief officers.
With the death of Raila and a fallout in ODM over power struggle, Orengo, together with Secretary General Edwin Sifuna among others, formed the Linda Mwananchi wing, while the new party leader Oburu leads the Linda Ground faction.
Orengo recently claimed he had ousted Oburu as the party leader after he failed to lead the party and was now the people’s party leader.
The former CECs allied to MPs Sam Atandi (Alego), Otiende Amolo (Rarieda), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), among others, were sacked and replaced by Orengo’s allies.
On Wednesday, the assembly approved the appointments of the CECs and the chief officers, marking a new political era not only in Siaya but also in Nyanza.
“Having conducted the approval hearing for the nominees pursuant to Section 8(1)(a) of the County Government Act 2012 and Section 7 of the Public Appointments Act 2017, the committee recommends that this house, and quote Siaya County Assembly, approve the nomination of the following: Joseph Rading as the CEC for Governance and Administration; Willis Okoth as the CEC for Agriculture, Irrigation, Food, Livestock and Fisheries; Christine Jenifer Akinyi for Trade, Cooperatives, Industrialization; Ochogo Nicholas Kut for CEC Tourism, Culture, Sports and Arts,” read the statement from the Assembly.
The statement read additionally that the committee recommended the approval of Adhola Neto Augustine as CEC for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development; and Erick J. Abungu Odawa as CEC for Public Works, Roads, Energy and Transport respectively.
“In addition to these, the committee also approved the appointment of the following chief officers: Wilfred Nyagudi as chief officer for Tourism, Maurine Owuor as chief officer for ICT, Walter Okelo for Governance Administration, Jared Abayo for Environment, and Joseph Mboha for Lands,” it read.
The Speaker, George Okode, called on the Governor to formally appoint the nominees into the approved positions.
“However, the house recalled the nominations of two CEC nominees by Governor James Orengo, requesting the Governor to consider re-appointing or forwarding two different names for consideration within 14 days,” Okode said.
The appointment excludes allies of the Linda Ground faction and gives a fresh start to the Linda Mwananchi wing, which now calls the shots in the county.
This marks the beginning of the battle between Oburu and Orengo, not only over Siaya but also the party, and this is likely to be key in the 2027 general elections.
Orengo’s new cabinet appointments mirror a new dispensation to enhance his grip on Siaya County politics and weed out the allies of ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga and the MPs from the county who are allied to Linda Ground.
Orengo’s new-look cabinet is more of a Linda Mwananchi one, composed of some politicians who were allegedly rigged out in the ODM primaries in various seats.
Politics of checkmates
For Atandi, the appointment of Kut is meant to keep him busy and he is likely to be the main challenger in the 2027 general elections.
Kut is not a political pushover in Alego politics, and his appointment will take Atandi back to the drawing board ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo, the situation is now complex after the residents asked former cabinet minister Raphael Tuju to return and reclaim the seat.
Similarly, Adhola has been the main political opponent to Otiende, and his appointment as a cabinet member is another nightmare.
The end of the Oburu–Raila dominance
For decades, Siaya has been the political heartland of the Odinga family, a region where loyalty to Raila Odinga and Dr Oburu Oginga defined both politics and power. County appointments, contracts, and alignments flowed through that network.
But Orengo’s recent moves have disrupted that tradition. The governor is now perceived as building his own power base, one that no longer depends on approval from the Odinga inner circle.
“This is the first real political separation from the Odinga family’s hold in Siaya,” observed a county insider. “Orengo is carefully dismantling the old order while presenting it as routine governance.”
While the governor remains outwardly respectful of Raila, his decisions, from senior staff changes to his anticipated CEC reshuffle, are seen as part of a broader political succession project in which Orengo is positioning himself as the next dominant voice in Luo Nyanza politics.
A new power structure emerging
What is unfolding in Siaya is more than a routine political shake-up; it is a strategic repositioning of Orengo’s leadership ahead of 2027.
By neutralizing pro-Ruto voices and asserting authority over ODM’s county operations, Orengo is redefining Siaya’s political centre from one dominated by Raila and Oburu to one revolving around himself.
He is said to be building a network of loyalists across key departments, sub-counties, and ward-level structures – a new political army that will anchor his influence both within and beyond ODM.
The strategy, insiders say, is to control both the county executive and grassroots political machinery, ensuring that any future political negotiation in Nyanza, especially in a post-Raila era, must pass through Orengo.
The larger ODM picture
Within ODM, Orengo’s moves are being interpreted in two ways. His supporters describe him as a reformer modernizing politics, giving the county independence from personality-driven politics. His critics, however, see a calculated centralization of power, meant to sideline historical allies and elevate loyalists under the guise of administrative renewal.
Yet one thing is certain: Siaya is no longer politically monolithic. The once-unquestioned ODM fortress is now a terrain of subtle power plays, emerging factions, and realignment towards national relevance.
Governor Orengo’s current moves have little to do with performance and everything to do with political control.
By reconstituting his cabinet and administration, he is sending a clear message that the age of indirect rule through political elders is over.
In the process, Siaya is becoming a microcosm of Kenya’s evolving political realignment, where loyalty to personalities is giving way to pragmatic power-building.
The proponents of zoning in the proposed Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) pre-election coalition agreement with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) have suffered a jolt after Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o termed the idea as unacceptable, flawed, and a negation of democracy.
He said the idea of zoning was unacceptable as it takes the country back to the times when politics were shaped by elite agreement and ethnic calculations.
Nyong’o said as the country moves closer to 2027, the troubling idea of informally dividing Kenya into political zones where only certain leaders are expected or allowed to compete negates democracy.
“Accepting zoning would mean replacing open competition with predetermined outcomes. It would treat voters as passive observers rather than active decision makers. It will also weaken accountability since leaders would no longer need to persuade a wide range of citizens to earn their support,” he said.
He said political choices made for immediate convenience often create long-term consequences.
“This idea is not only flawed, it runs against the very foundation of our democracy – our constitution. What may appear as a useful short-term strategy could, in time, become a burden too heavy for the nation to carry,” he wrote.
Nyong’o said for the heavy cost of the idea, Kenyans must approach politics with a forward-looking mindset, not one driven by short-term calculations.
The ODM wing of Linda Ground, led by Dr Oburu Oginga, has stated that ODM’s irreducible minimum is zoning of ODM strongholds from UDA and other coalition partners.
Dr Oburu said zoning will only be handled by a technical team, which, according to him, is yet to be formed.
“These are issues that are going to be discussed in negotiations, and we have a technical team which we are just preparing to start discussing those issues. Those people who have begun discussing it in public are in too much of a hurry. They do not know what will come out of it,” Oburu stated.
ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has declared that Homa Bay and the broader Nyanza region are ODM zones and will not tolerate opposition, specifically warning against UDA infiltration.
Wanga insisted that any coalition agreement with UDA must include a clear zoning formula that guarantees ODM a fair and respectable number of seats in regions where it has strong support.
“ODM will not be a ‘junior affiliate’ to UDA, and we expect a 50-50 power-sharing structure where ODM controls its traditional strongholds,” she insisted.
Kaluma said: “I want to tell our friends in UDA, if you think you can have members here in Homa Bay, it will take away votes from the President. In fact, if you want to destroy our relationship, try fronting anyone other than ODM here in Homa Bay.”
Nyong’o wrote that it was important to look at Kenya’s democratic journey and that the 2010 constitution was a major turning point, as it was designed to open up governance, protect rights, and ensure power truly belonged to the people.
“Under the constitution, the right to participate in politics is not symbolic but real and enforceable. Every Kenyan has the right to run for office anywhere within the country, from local positions to the presidency, as long as they meet legal requirements,” he said.
Alego MP Sam Atandi said there was no negotiation over zoning and will not allow UDA to plant candidates in Nyanza.
“We are not going to allow UDA to plant a candidate here in Muhoroni. All our party strongholds are reserved for ODM, nothing less or more,” he said.
UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar has dismissed ODM’s zoning demands, saying the UDA party will field candidates across the country.
The UDA Secretary General argued that if ODM is confident in its strongholds, it should allow other parties to field candidates in those areas.
“ODM says the Coast is their stronghold; we are telling them the Coast belongs to the people of the Coast, let us compete fairly. And they claim that even if some of us are allowed to vie for seats, we cannot defeat them in their ODM zones. If you have that kind of courage and confidence, then what problem is the issue with us contesting for those seats?” Omar questioned.
MP Millie Odhiambo has maintained that ODM was the most popular party in the country and the call for zoning was retrogressive and uncalled for.
“There has been a lot of discussion on the issue of zoning. My personal position is that ODM is a popular party. We have declared ODM as a popular and the largest party in the country; how come we demand zoning?” she asked.
She said ODM has managed to successfully front candidates without any formal form of zoning, perhaps maybe a silent agreement like in Nairobi.
“There has never been a need for zoning for ODM. Let us be honest: none of us is Raila Amolo Odinga. We need to listen to the public. The public is keen that we show what we have done for the public. When we start pushing an agenda of zoning, it means we put our personal interest ahead of our constituents,” she said.
Millie said elected leaders should not be scared of competition if they know they have delivered on their mandate.
“If I have worked for my constituency, I should not fear meeting my opponents. So when we talk about zoning, we seem to be seeking favorable treatment. Let us reconsider the issue of zoning,” she said.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna wondered why a section of party members were demanding zoning in areas which are ODM strongholds.
“How do you call for zoning in Homa Bay County, the bastion of ODM? Let UDA field a candidate because that is not something to scare us,” he said.
He said the proponents of zoning have a problem and fear facing their opponents at the ballot.
For the last two months, Kenyans have been treated to the theatre of emotional outbursts from President William Ruto, Linda Ground, the united opposition, and the new kids on the block, Linda Mwananchi.
From the outbursts, actions and reactions, Linda Mwananchi has emerged as the ideal applicant of emotional intelligence in their actions and deeds, pushing them above the rest.
For President Ruto, ODM Linda Ground, former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, and Dr Fred Matiang’i among others have fallen into the trap of low application of emotional intelligence in their speeches, actions and deeds.
A close analysis of the different political blocks exposes how Linda Mwananchi is building on emotional intelligence to win the voters while the others are destroying the bricks over negative application of the same.
Emotional intelligence is roughly defined as the ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions effectively in oneself and others to guide thinking, behavior, and relationships.
It involves self-awareness, empathy, and regulating emotions to reduce stress, communicate, and solve problems. Key components include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
Application of Emotional Intelligence
Workplace Leadership: A leader with high EQ stays calm during a crisis, managing their own stress to lead effectively, and empathizes with team members’ anxieties to boost morale.
Conflict Resolution: Instead of reacting impulsively, an emotionally intelligent person pauses, understands the emotions behind a dispute, and negotiates a solution.
Improved Communication: Being able to read subtle emotional cues in others helps in adjusting your tone and message to avoid misunderstandings.
Empathy and Relationship Management: Recognizing a colleague’s frustration and addressing it proactively helps in fostering better team collaboration.
Self-Regulation: When receiving critical feedback, an emotionally intelligent person doesn’t act defensively but rather manages their frustration to listen constructively.
Linda Mwananchi
Former Jubilee Secretary General Mr Jeremiah Kioni has aptly captured it by saying: “When the organizing principle is power, you lose Kenyans, and if the organizing principles are issues that Kenyans are facing, you will bring everybody on board. That is why the Edwin Sifuna axis of Linda Mwananchi is more attractive.”
For instance, the recent attack on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi in Kisumu and subsequent admission to the hospital could have turned into a political divorce between the Luhya and the Luo communities.
But the team went ahead to change the action into a powerful tool of unity and a rallying call, with the leader declaring that the attack was not committed by the community but by acts of goons.
“The Luo community did not attack me, and this should not be used to drive a wedge between the Luo and Luhya communities. We are committed to giving the country new leadership,” he said.
Kisii Senator Onyonka, ahead of last Sunday’s rally in Kisumu, was on Saturday chased away from a hotel in Siaya by some youths.
Onyonka acted by showing leadership, being among the first Linda Mwananchi team to arrive at the Kowuor venue for the rally.
“I was not attacked by the Luo community, and if anything, it was the owner of the restaurant who saved me from the youths,” he said.
Linda Mwananchi has moved from the politics of tribe in these two instances to issues, and this is winning Kenyans over to them by employing ingredients of leadership, self-regulation, conflict resolution, improved communication, empathy, and relationship management.
Linda Ground antics
The Dr Oburu Oginga-led Linda Ground has continued to play the politics of tribe and fallen into the trap of negative application of emotional intelligence.
The party’s National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, among others, has taken to chiding and insulting Gachagua as “Gachietha” and saying that their supporters cannot work with his people from Mt Kenya.
The team has dismally failed to apply the ingredients of leadership, self-regulation, conflict resolution, improved communication, empathy, and relationship management.
Currently, Linda Ground is sinking minute by minute as Linda Mwananchi flourishes, attracting a huge support base.
President Ruto and united opposition
Recently, Kenyans witnessed raw and unpalatable diatribes from leaders as the pressure of the 2027 presidential elections gains momentum.
It was the lowest moment for the country as the top leaders turned to body shaming, mudslinging, name-calling, and raw insults, personal attacks that have baffled and embarrassed Kenyans and the world.
From issue and ideology-based campaigns, the leaders deteriorated to non-issues that have no direct impact on the country and the citizens and fail to address the high cost of living and emerging issues.
It can be said the exchanges have been one of the darkest days in the country’s political history ahead of the 2027 general elections and could be the tip of the iceberg of how the 2027 campaigns are likely to be.
Gachagua’s emotional intelligence failure
Gachagua lit the flame in Kiambu when he attacked President Ruto, wondering why he had reduced in weight and body-shamed him about his ears.
“We will make sure William Ruto, you are not going to sleep for the next 15 months. You will sleep when you finally reach Sugoi. We will expose you. You have seen how he has reduced in weight. It’s just the beginning,” he said.
Gachagua’s speeches have mostly been laced with tribal distaste, which has only made him the king of Mt Kenya and failed to take his campaigns away from the region.
Gachagua’s campaigns have been in Mt Kenya and Ukambani, and this has confined him to being a regional and tribal leader, failing the tests and attributes of emotional intelligence.
Ruto’s emotional outburst
President Ruto, while on a tour of Mt Elgon, did not take it lying down and hit back, saying his attackers were driven by the demons of tribalism and hatred and cannot lead the country.
“Someone who went to the bedside of his sick and dying brother to manipulate the will. You cold-blooded thief, stealing from your own brother. Stealing from orphans and widows. You want to give us lectures. Someone who impregnated a young girl and then later allegedly killed her. What will you tell us about deaths? You cold-blooded murderer. You want to mislead our nation. We will not allow you to mislead anyone in Kenya, and you are not going to be anything in this nation. You belong in the rot of jail,” he said.
President Ruto did not stop at that but cast his net wider and body-shamed another opposition leader.
“You have eaten until your stomach is bulging. You have overeaten. I want to ask you to kindly have a look at yourself in a mirror. Look at your shape in the mirror. Bulging stomach almost tearing the shirt. Go to the gym and exercise. Kindly reduce overeating so that you may stop sleeping at functions,” he said.
President Ruto’s next target was a leader in Kitale whom he dismissed as a failure and incapable of leading.
“There is another one from Kitale; I do not know what to say about him. He was left a wife by his brother, he was left acres of land by his brother, he was left children by his brother. On that farm, he has not built a house. He hires a wife and rents a house. He has left his brother’s children to die from poverty. He is now traversing the country in hope of leading the country. Who will you lead? Go build a house first at your home, look for a wife, and buy diapers,” he said.
Matiang’i’s response
But Jubilee Deputy Party Leader and presidential aspirant Dr Fred Matiang’i hit back at Ruto, wondering why he was concerned about his eating style.
“I do not understand why you are concerned about my eating style. Because I don’t eat your wife’s food. Have you seen me come to look for food from your wife? I eat bananas from Kisii and food cooked by my wife. If my eating style is a problem for you, ask yourself why I have not come to ask you why you have grown thin?” he said.
Wamalwa’s application of emotional intelligence
DAP-K Leader Eugene Wamalwa said President Ruto had stooped low and that the insults against him were unnecessary.
“You have abused me. Today, I want to tell William Ruto that Michelle Obama once said when they go low, you go high. And that is why we go high. Today, William Ruto, you have stooped the lowest in your public life. What you said today, the insults against Eugene Wamalwa, was quite unpresidential. Very unpresidential, and I want to request you: I have never insulted you. You were mad and even wanted to slap me. It is the truth. It is not an insult; it is true you wanted to beat Matiang’i; it is the truth. We have witnesses because it is about your character and what happened. Hunger management is an issue that you have. If we say what you have done, Eugene Wamalwa is not insulting you. Why would you come home to insult me?” he said.
Mageta Island in Bondo, Siaya County, used to be engulfed in darkness once the sun had drifted into its hideout in the western fringes of the universe. This meant businesses were hastily shut early and residents rushed home to avoid whatever insecurity risks lurked in the dark.
But things have dramatically changed for the island following the implementation of the Sh232 million Mageta Solar Mini Grid.
“Mageta Island is now well lit. Before, this place was too dark,” says Danington Odhiambo, noting that the solar project has been a huge boost to the provision of healthcare services on the island.
“We are now able to order vaccines enough to last a month. This was not possible because we did not have sufficient power,” says Mr Odhiambo, a nurse at Mageta Health Centre, which serves a population of 7,022 and vaccinates 255 people monthly.
Milicent Achieng, an entrepreneur, says the solar-powered mini grid has transformed her business, enabling her to raise her income. “I now keep drinking water and soft drinks like soda in the fridge. This brings me customers who need cold drinks,” Ms Achieng enthuses.
The solar project, implemented by the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), generates 802kw daily and has a capacity of 11,000kv. The project was commissioned by President Ruto in 2024 as part of the government’s push to expand access to clean and sustainable energy in underserved regions.
Once fully complete, the project will serve more than 1,400 households. The first phase has seen 890 homes connected to electricity, with the rest coming on board in the second phase. To ensure reliable power supply on the island during rainy seasons, a backup diesel generator and three lithium batteries are installed.
Nicholas Waga, who is in charge of the Mageta substation, says the project has immensely benefited the island community by enhancing job creation, enriching livelihoods and easing delivery of government services.
Schools, hospitals and a water project in the area are using the solar grid to power their activities. The hospital, Mr Waga notes, was previously unable to keep medicines which require cold storage.
“Take for example vaccines for children. They couldn’t be kept in adequate quantities, putting the lives of the children at risk,” Mr Waga says.
Zakary Otieno, a resident of Mageta, says the connection to the solar grid has positively impacted the face of the community in many ways. Children, he notes, can now do their school assignments at dusk, adding that previously the learners were using lamps that did not provide a conducive atmosphere for studies. Further, Mr Otieno says various enterprises are now thriving since the project came into being, noting that the development has opened up the area for increased trade.
“I can see the potential of this area being realised, with existing enterprises expanding and new ones being established,” Mr Otieno opines, expressing his appreciation for the government for implementing the project.
The connection to solar has seen businesses such as welding, salons and phone charging stations sprout. Young people, Mr Otieno says, are the key beneficiaries as they will be able to engage in self-employment.
“Ruto is the first president to bring this kind of development here,” Mr Otieno says. “We are very grateful, and we want to request him to expand the project to connect more places and spread the benefits to more people.”
Diverse enterprises on the island are also major beneficiaries of the project, with Waga noting that the residents used to obtain steel doors and windows from outside the island as there was no adequate supply of power for welding. Even women had to travel long distances to access salon services.
The schools are also undergoing a transformation thanks to the solarisation of the area. Before, they were using old typewriters, but now they have computers, easing generation of study materials and exams.
“The President is really changing the lives of our people. We can only urge him to implement phase two so that more people can enjoy such development,” Mr Waga says.
Francis Okoth, also a resident of Mageta, says the lighting of the area has beefed up security, noting that criminals no longer lurk in the dark.
The solar mini grid, he adds, is a boost to farmers as they are able to pump water into their farms. “Farmers can now grow a variety of crops in all seasons as they can irrigate their farms during a dry spell. This significantly boosts their livelihoods,” Mr Okoth says.
A lonely voice of reason, in the midst of a storm, confusion, infighting and division, in the troubled waters of Kenya’s main opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Wakili Millie Odhiambo, scorned and threatened with violence over her lonely voice of reason, has been vindicated by the reality check that has now emerged in the Linda Ground faction of Dr Oburu Oginga.
The Suba North MP, the lone voice of reason, has faced constant boos and threats from goons over her stand on issues in the party.
Millie, not new to controversy, was once recognized for her passionate and dedicated crusade for the rights of the girl child in the country.
The Kilifi ODM NEC and goons drama
The ODM National Executive Council which convened in Kilifi was a stab in the back of the founding party leader, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, when, despite protests from various quarters, they opted to sack the Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
In a scathing revelation, Millie said goons were transported from Nairobi to Kilifi and they even threatened to beat her up.
“I was shouted down by goons. There were goons who were brought from Nairobi to come and beat me up. When I told our people what I am telling you today, some goons were sent to beat me up in Kilifi,” she revealed.
In a statement after the meeting, the ODM read: “The Party National Executive Committee meeting in Mombasa today has resolved to relieve Secretary General Edwin Sifuna of his responsibilities with immediate effect. Effectively, Catherine Omanyo, who is one of the deputy secretaries general, will act in this position until a substantive holder of the office is elected.”
A besieged Oburu, in an earlier statement, said ODM was a members’ club and those in it must abide by the rules of membership.
The question, therefore, is: were the goons brought from Nairobi to Kilifi to humiliate Sifuna and the dissidents?
It is not lost on Kenyans how ODM has constantly deployed goons to harass and cause violence against dissenting voices in the party.
The first casualty was the Secretary General Langat Margerer, who was hounded out of office by goons after a party meeting at the ODM office in the Kilimani area of Nairobi.
Then Ababu Namwamba also faced a similar fate when the Men in Black scuttled the party’s National Delegates Conference, which was meant to elect new officials.
Sifuna was expected to be the next meal for the goons but evaded the beating after he failed to attend the Dr Oburu Oginga-led meetings.
Build the party or scatter all
Millie has argued that her concern was about building the party and not scattering the party members.
“If you see me remain calm, there is a reason. You only know half of what is happening. You do not know what is happening. When you see Millie restrained, there is a reason. I told our people that we should tread carefully. Let us first build the party and make it strong, so that when we go into negotiations, we negotiate from a point of strength,” she said.
Millie said she warned her fellow party officials against sacking and chasing Sifuna away from the party, and that politics is dynamic.
“I told them not to chase away Sifuna and that politics would determine his future, whether to stay or to go away. Because we do not know when we may need the Luhya community in future. What will we tell the Luhya community after we chased away their son? We will need their support in future, and we must be very careful,” she said.
Millie said instead of the party officials listening to her concerns and point of view, she was threatened.
“I was told, ‘Millie, we will beat you up properly.’ The goons told me to sit down and stop expressing contrary opinions to the members,” she said.
The party National Chairperson Gladys Wanga stoked the fire further by writing a show-cause letter to Sifuna asking why he should not be disciplined.
Wanga wrote the show-cause letter captioned “Notice to Show Cause.”
She said the NEC meeting of February 11th, 2026, resolved to initiate proceedings for Sifuna’s removal over alleged gross misconduct.
The charges include contradiction of party position, persistent public contradictions of party resolutions, further contradictory statements, establishment of parallel and unsanctioned political initiatives, other charges being failure to attend and participate in party meetings, and conduct prejudicial to the party.
“You are hereby required to show cause, in writing, within four days from the date hereof, and in any event not later than close of business on Wednesday, 8th April 2026, as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against you. Upon receipt and consideration of your response, appear before a constituted panel appointed by the NEC, in accordance with the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism for hearing and determination of this matter at 10.00 am, at a venue to be communicated in due course,” Wanga wrote.
The Linda Mwananchi shocker
Millie said her colleagues in the Linda Mwananchi rallies would only go for a week, and after that, Sifuna and his colleagues would be forgotten and things would fall into place.
“They said Sifuna would only have a week of rallies and that he was a passing cloud. When Millie said these things, they wanted to beat me up. At the Ciala meeting in Kisumu, I was booed. And now the reason why I was being booed are now the issues they are talking about. What I said previously and why I was shouted down is the current debate the party is advocating,” she said.
Last Sunday, Sifuna and Linda Mwananchi held a successful rally in Kisumu, and threats by Linda Ground to scuttle it failed miserably.
What next for Millie?
Millie is viewed as a sober and level-headed politician, and it may just be a matter of time before she joins the Linda Mwananchi wing.
United Green Movement (UGM) has been on a countrywide tour sensitizing Kenyans about voter registration, popularizing their party and that of their presidential candidate David Maraga ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Katiba Caravan tour comes amid outcry by Kenyans about the hard economic situation, including the rise in the cost of various commodities including fuel.
On Tuesday, the Maraga-led team visited Homa Bay County, where they warned Kenyans against re-electing President Ruto, alleging that he has messed up the country’s economy, including education and health sectors.
According to Maraga, giving President Ruto another opportunity to rule the country will lead to further messing up of the country’s economy, which is currently on its deathbed.
“You all know what is currently happening with the current government we are having. Our economy is currently at its worst state; the fuel prices have gone up, which has led to everything rising,” he said.
The former Chief Justice added that the introduction of CBE was done without proper consultations with stakeholders.
CBE is a learning system which focuses on practical skills, creativity and continuous assessment rather than one-time examinations. It comprises two years of Pre-Primary, six years of Primary, three years of Junior School (grades 7-9), three years of Senior School (grades 10-12), and emphasizes 60 per cent classroom assessment.
“President Ruto messed up by approving the introduction of the Competency Based Education (CBE) and Social Health Authority (SHA), which have completely failed and have interfered with our education and health sectors,” said Maraga.
“As I was reading the papers, there were reports about teachers going on strike. The cause of the confusion we are currently experiencing has led and will continue to destroy the future of our young people,” he said.
“The implementation of the CBE report is being done shoddily just because of personal interest, which has led to the confusion we are currently in,” he said.
Maraga said the government ought to have carried out proper consultation and research before coming up with such a programme, instead of hurriedly introducing and implementing it.
There have been challenges raised by parents concerning CBC, ranging from high cost of learning materials to rising school levies.
Teachers have also reported a shortage of teaching materials and feel unprepared for the Senior School transition, which requires specialized equipment and training.
“When changing from one system of education to another, you must ensure that there are readily trained teachers, which was not done, and it has led to the current mess we are in,” he asserted.
The presidential hopeful, however, told Kenyans that he has a proper manifesto to put the country on the right path once elected as the next country CEO.
“With the CBE matter, we will assemble an education team which will guide us on what to do, since they are the experts, and we will embrace and heed their pieces of advice,” he said.
“Once in office, my government will get professionals who will man our institutions, and we will give them mandate and support. We will only demand results. As a great nation, we cannot afford to gamble with the future of our citizens,” he said.
“We will bring parents, learners and scholars on board, and as a team we will decide on the best way to tackle our education, which will be affordable and beneficial to all,” he added.
On SHA, Maraga faulted President Ruto’s government for introducing SHA, which he says has affected the health system and the lives of Kenyans.
He said Kenyans have been suffering under SHA and have failed to get proper medication in various health facilities.
Maraga said the country has faced widespread service disruption, technical system failures and provider debts, which have been causing frustration among workers and patients.
Patients, including teachers and other civil servants, have been facing hitches accessing medical services at various hospitals, with some being turned away or forced to pay cash due to provider frustrations with the system.
“When we have a poor health system, everybody knows the challenges Kenyans face, which has made life unbearable,” he said.
Maraga was accompanied by former Ndhiwa MP Agostinho Netto and the party’s Homa Bay Woman Representative aspirant Elizabeth Ogweno.
Oyugi, who will be vying for the Ndhiwa parliamentary seat on a UGM ticket, hailed Kenyans who participated in the voter registration exercise, saying their effort to create awareness has yielded positive results.
“Homa Bay marks our 43rd county which we have visited since we began our voter registration sensitization programme and popularizing our presidential candidate and the party,” said Oyugi.
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