Kisumu County ODM Secretary General Okoth Opande has backed calls for a politician from Nyakach to succeed Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o in the 2027 elections.
Opande said the constituency had a historic opportunity to produce Kisumu’s next governor and claimed the late ODM leader Raila Odinga had expressed a wish for the county to be led by a politician from Nyakach.
He recalled meeting Odinga during the former opposition leader’s visit to KenGen Nyakach.
“I had a privilege of engaging the late Raila when he visited us here in KenGen Nyakach, and it was his desire that Kisumu County be next led by a governor from Nyakach,” Opande said.
Three prominent Nyakach politicians have expressed interest in the gubernatorial race: Deputy Governor Mathews Owili, Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda.
Opande, who plans to contest the Nyakach parliamentary seat in 2027, said he would support whichever of the three secures the party nomination and emerges as the strongest candidate.
“If you don’t want Ojienda, then vote for Owili; if you dislike Owili, then vote for Aduma. That’s my stand. Let’s get this position home here,” he said.
Opande also urged the Luo community and ODM supporters in Kisumu to back President William Ruto’s administration under the broad-based government.
He said ODM supporters had two choices: remain in government and benefit from development programmes or return to the opposition and street demonstrations.
“As the Luo nation, and especially ODM supporters and members, we have only two options: stay in the broad-based government and continue receiving state development uninterrupted, or join the opposition and get back to the streets to be tear-gassed,” he said.
Opande, who supports ODM leader Oburu Oginga, also urged residents to support President Ruto’s bid for a second term in 2027.
He was speaking in Nyakach over the weekend during a teachers’ fun day held ahead of the reopening of schools for the third term.
The aspiring MP also raised concerns about teacher shortages in schools, calling for increased recruitment to address staffing gaps.
He said he was working with local teachers’ union officials to recognise schools that had excelled in sporting activities.
He announced that each school would receive Sh50,000 to support sporting activities.
“As a partner of teachers, I will not walk away from them but support where possible. The fun day is a mental health activity to break the boredom of teachers,” Opande said.
Working with KUPPET Kisumu head Osura, Opande proposed that the teachers’ fun day be held twice a year to give teachers more opportunities to interact, relax and recharge.
Parliamentary contest
On his parliamentary ambitions, Opande identified the incumbent Nyakach MP, Mr Owuor, as his main challenger, although the MP is now pursuing the gubernatorial seat.
He described his other potential opponents as “featherweights” but called for peaceful campaigns without personal attacks or name-calling.
“My opponents are featherweights, but we must have peaceful campaigns devoid of name-calling,” he said.
The political contest in Nyakach is expected to intensify as aspirants position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
The gubernatorial race is likely to influence political alliances across Kisumu County.
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