By Anderson Ojwang

The immediate former National Chairman of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), John Mbadi, can be credited as one of the most loyal servants of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Mbadi’s loyalty to the party and to Raila is above reproach. That is why, when he was asked to step down in favor of Gladys Wanga for the Homa Bay gubernatorial seat, he did so without question.

Mbadi’s associates during the campaign gave a glimpse of what happened, saying that after he received a telephone call from Raila directing him to shelve his ambition and instead support Wanga, he complied.

In the telephone conversation, he was promised the Finance Cabinet post in Raila’s anticipated government that never came to be.

Mbadi walked to his car, locked himself inside for one hour, cried, and came to terms with the new reality. After that, he broke the sad news and decision to his deflated inner team and then drove to Nairobi.

Back in Nairobi, Raila assigned him to listen to election disputes—using the same authority that had clipped his gubernatorial ambition—and Mbadi executed the mission as expected of him.

Mbadi’s loyalty landed him a position as Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister during the Grand Coalition Government. His closeness to and loyalty toward Raila made him a dependable player.

This explains why Raila settled on him to become the ODM National Chairman after the death of Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang.

During the formation of the Broad-Based Government, Raila fulfilled his promise when President Ruto appointed Mbadi as Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Treasury and Economic Planning.

Currently, Mbadi is showing similar loyalty to President Ruto, having become one of the strongest crusaders for Ruto’s re-election in the 2027 elections.

“Your Excellency, you are not only our neighbor but our friend. You are guaranteed the support of this region.

You have demonstrated to us that you care and that you don’t want this region to lag behind. I have worked with you very closely for over a year, and I know your government is about inclusivity.

What is happening in Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, and Homa Bay counties is happening in the rest of the country.

You gave me the power of the pen, and I know the budget from page one to the last page.

Those people who talk of one term—I want to assure you here that they will be shocked. The talk of one term is an illusion.

You are going to get your second term, and you will be rewarded. And when you finish your presidential term, you will hand over to another president who thinks about Kenya and not just a region,” he said.

Mbadi’s loyalty was again evident when he declared that he would not seek any elective post in the 2027 elections but would instead campaign for President Ruto’s re-election.

“I wish His Excellency to hear this clearly—we have unity among our leaders and a single governor at the helm. In 2022, I vied for the governorship together with Wanga; however, I would like to declare unequivocally that I will not be contesting any seat in 2027,” he said.

For Mbadi, his eyes are not only fixed on Nyanza’s leadership; he is also eyeing the presidency, which explains why he is identifying with every part of the country.

He said at a recent function in Karachuonyo that ODM would support President Ruto in 2027 and, in 2032, the community would also present a candidate.

“The president in 2027—we’ve already decided, and there is nothing ODM will think about; we’ve already accepted that. I was the longest-serving chairman of ODM in this country. We’re going to unite with Ruto in 2027, and we’re organizing ourselves for 2032. Has the time come or not? Is anyone against that? We have to organize ourselves also. And by the way, since Ruto became president, he has been seen,” he said.

In his role as CS for the Treasury, Mbadi has helped the president steady the ship, and his service delivery has endeared him to the public.

Mbadi has developed a new strategy to engage Kenyans in Kamkunjis to explain the government’s economic policies and plans.

He has presided over the growth of Kenya’s economy, which has demonstrated resilience—recording an average growth rate of 5.2 percent between 2023 and 2024, outpacing both the global average of 3.3 percent and Sub-Saharan Africa’s 3.8 percent.

He attributed this performance to deliberate policy choices and a diversified economic base.

In Nyanza, Mbadi has been traversing the region, holding fund drives in what can be viewed as a strategic move to gain public acceptance amid a new power shift and matrix.

Mbadi is an orator, blessed with strong oratory skills, which he hopes to exploit in his future political pursuits.

For Mbadi, loyalty is everything—and that is why, in the new political arrangement, Raila could possibly hand over the mantle to him. He has remained a trusted lieutenant and loyal disciple to Raila.

By Anderson Ojwang

Before the 2022 presidential election, Dr. Raymond Ojwang Omollo did not feature prominently in Nyanza’s political space. He was only known within the circles of then Deputy President William Ruto.

For Ruto, Omollo was a dependable ally in Nyanza — a resourceful personality he could count on during the 2022 presidential election. But for the region, Omollo was not part of the political equation until President Ruto elevated him to the national stage.

Indeed, President Ruto’s judgment proved right. Omollo has turned out to be a reliable, dependable, and resourceful figure — not only in Nyanza but also nationally. The President rewarded him with a strategic appointment as the Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, a position in which he has performed remarkably well.

Soon after the election, President Ruto visited Homa Bay for a fundraising and prayer service, and since then, he has made the region his second home.

Omollo’s star rose with his appointment. He has succeeded where many politicians have failed — managing to balance allegiance to the President while avoiding antagonism with the political establishment in Nyanza.

Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba, in a recent interview, revealed that during the 2022 elections, Ruto (then Deputy President) and Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate asked her to contact Omollo to organize logistics and the campaign program for Nyanza.

“Omollo did a good job. Ray and his team went around collecting Form 34As at gunpoint — it was a daring moment, but they braved it. Even when ODM went to court to challenge the results, they had to rely on our forms from Nyanza because we did a proper job. ODM was disorganized and didn’t have the forms,” she said.

“People who don’t know him wondered how he got into that space — he worked for it. The President trusted him, and whenever Ruto called to ask how things were going, I told him Ray was doing a good job. He made coordination smooth and achievable.”

Omollo’s first step in entrenching himself within the community was through his Ray of Hope Foundation, which supports widows and orphans. The foundation has endeared him to the masses across Nyanza through its impactful initiatives — constructing houses, empowering groups economically, educating orphans, and offering training for employment.

Omollo has also been a strong supporter of sports development in the region, donating sports gear to clubs and sponsoring tournaments.

According to Sam Okombo Nyarombo, the Director of the Widowers Empowerment Program, the main goal is to offer healthcare, empowerment, and support services to a neglected group in society.

“For quite some time, we have focused on the girl child and widows but forgotten about widowers who have been living desperate lives after losing their spouses,” said Nyarombo.

“After realizing what our elderly single fathers go through, together with PS Omollo, we decided to start a program to offer them mental support, healthcare, and basic needs. We want to restore hope and make them feel valued again,” he added.

The formation of a broad-based government arrangement between President Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga has also strengthened Omollo’s political standing. He now interacts freely with both leaders.

Omollo enjoys cordial relations with ODM legislators who have become his defenders against critics. Nyanza MPs, including Sam Atandi, Opondo Kaluma, Jared Okello, and Phelix Odiwuor (Jalang’o), have publicly supported him.

His successful delivery of national government projects in Homa Bay, as delegated by President Ruto, has also boosted his rating among local leaders.

Dr. Omollo has consistently emphasized that President Ruto’s development initiatives in Homa Bay are genuine and meant to spur economic growth.

“President Ruto means well for Homa Bay County. Several projects have been rolled out by the national government, and they are already having significant impact both regionally and nationally,” he said.

Despite being a key member of President Ruto’s administration, Omollo has never antagonized Raila Odinga. Instead, he has emerged as one of the unifying figures in the broad-based government arrangement.

Today, Omollo is widely accepted within the Odinga family and the broader ODM fraternity, where leaders and supporters identify with his initiatives.

In a recent post, Jalang’o wrote:

“Salute to a True Public Servant – PS Raymond Omollo.

Just had the pleasure of catching a moment with PS Raymond Omollo — a leader whose impact speaks louder than any title.

From strengthening national security to empowering communities, his commitment to service is unmatched. What stands out most is his humility, clarity of purpose, and unwavering dedication to making Kenya safer and stronger.

This selfie may be simple, but the respect I have for his work runs deep. Thank you, PS Omollo, for leading with integrity and vision.”

Will Omollo live up to the billing and become the next enigma in Nyanza politics?

By Anderson Ojwang

After decades of Nyanza’s political mantle and power resting with the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga family at Kango Ka Jaramogi, and later with his son Raila Amolo Odinga at Opoda Farm, a new political shift in community leadership is in the offing.

With the emerging new political dispensation in Nyanza, the mantle is now up for grabs as it seeks a new dominion. The flying and dancing mantle is attracting several ambitious, upcoming, and prominent leaders in the community who have been scheming and plotting on how to seize the opportunity.

The time is now or never for the suitors.

A new political wave is gripping the region, with the “Babu moment” unfolding in Nyanza, where he is creating a storm and a wave similar to that of Raila. Among the suitors of the mantle is Babu Owino Ongili, an alumnus of Kisumu Boys, a school reputed for honing and churning out successful human resources for the country.

Babu’s political wave is not only unsettling his competitors but also creating excitement among his support base in the region.

Walking in Raila’s footsteps and applying similar tactics used during Raila’s political duel with Siaya Governor James Orengo over the mantle after the demise of Jaramogi, Babu is stirring a political storm.

Early this year, when Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga became ODM national chairperson and subsequently organized a thanksgiving prayer service, Babu stormed the event and carried the day. The public demanded that Babu address them, and the crowd temporarily paralyzed the function as they insisted he be given the opportunity to speak.

The event, which was graced by ODM leader Raila Odinga, interim party leader Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, Cabinet Secretaries John Mbadi and Hassan Joho, and various senators, governors, and members of parliament, witnessed what was described as Babu’s “bloodless coup.”

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo’s efforts to pacify the crowd were drowned by chants of “Babu! Babu!” before Suba East MP Millie Odhiambo intervened, saying, “Let Babu speak to the people,” sending the crowd into wild cheers before settling down.

In his speech, Babu expressed support for Raila’s bid for the African Union chairperson position, saying he was the best candidate.

An enraged Suna East MP, Junet Mohammed, who also spoke at the function, termed those eyeing Raila’s position as committing an act of “treason.”

“Those people bringing irrelevant and useless discussions about Raila’s succession and inheriting his seat—I want to deliver a warning here in Homa Bay—that is an act of treason. If you talk of inheriting Raila’s seat, you will be beaten like nobody’s business,” he said.

Junet maintained that Raila would remain their leader whether he is in Addis Ababa as the AU Chair or in Kenya.

“Our father is one. If you want small positions like that of Gladys Wanga or mine, which is Director of Elections, you can go for that. But if you want to take Raila’s seat, we will pound you like a potato,” Junet said.

At the recent burial of former Cabinet Minister Dalmas Otieno Anyango in Rongo, a similar uproar was witnessed when mourners demanded that Babu speak.

Babu benefitted from the crowd that had been mobilized by various political blocs in Migori seeking elective posts in 2027, once again dominating his competitors for the mantle.

Various speakers castigated Babu for disrupting the peaceful burial process and for trying to hijack the platform for his own political gain.

Chairman of the Luo Council of Elders, Mzee Odungo Ranfa, at a recent function in Siaya County, compared Babu to a hunting lion and urged him to continue with his political maneuvers.

Ranfa told the gathering:

“I am happy to see this young boy. Babu Owino, be upstanding. Come and stand right here in the middle where people can see you. Thank you very much, Baba.

For those who don’t know Babu well, he was born in the sprawling slums of Nyalenda in Kisumu. They were my immediate neighbors. I saw him as a toddler.

He studied at Kisumu Central Primary School and Kisumu Boys before proceeding to the University of Nairobi. He is the son of Ogot Matar. Jo Siaya, are you happy? You see this brown boy? He is a lion—the hunter. Go back and sit down. I request Babu to continue with your journey and remain steadfast.”

In a recent interview, Babu claimed that he was the last born in Raila’s political family and, as tradition dictates, is bound to inherit his mantle.

“I love and respect Baba. I cannot go against him. I know that I am the last born in this family and will subsequently inherit the throne. So, I am not scared of those who may be against me,” he said.

Babu recently declared his support for Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to become the sixth president of Kenya. Kalonzo, in turn, offered him a political overture by requesting that he become one of the party’s deputy party leaders in the new leadership structure.

Earlier, Babu had claimed that during his pursuit of the Nairobi gubernatorial seat, he was convinced he would not secure the ODM ticket, as the party preferred the current Governor Johnson Sakaja over him.

With the clock ticking, will Babu upstage his competitors in the race for the mantle?

The series on Nyanza succession politics continues throughout the week.