Eliud Owalo credits Raila Odinga for launching his political career
By Cy Muganda, February 1, 2026Former ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has traced his entry into national politics to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying it was Raila who identified his potential and gave him his first major political opportunity.
Speaking on a local media station on Sunday, February 2, 2026, Owalo reflected on his political journey after being questioned about his past associations with both Raila and President William Ruto, and his eventual fallout with each.
Asked what his exits from the two political heavyweights said about him, Owalo described himself as a principled individual who prioritises professionalism in political engagements.
“I’m principled. I’m principled, you know, I always have a very professional relationship with the principals I work with,” Owalo responded.
From consultant to campaign manager
Owalo explained that his transition into active politics followed a professional consultancy role within government. He said he had been engaged to design the strategic plan for the Office of the Prime Minister, an assignment that later opened the door to Raila’s 2013 presidential campaign.
“How I came into the political space, by the way, for your information, is that I’d just been engaged as a consultant to design the strategic plan for the office of the Prime Minister,” Owalo said.
He noted that Raila later reached out to him after assessing his technical abilities and leadership capacity.
“After that, Raila reached out to me, based on what he had seen in me in terms of skills, competencies and capabilities, to bring some value into his presidential campaign by virtue of heading the presidential campaign and also being his campaign manager,” he stated.
Owalo said the role marked his formal entry into the political arena during the 2012–2013 election period, describing his working relationship with Raila as strictly professional.
Debt of gratitude
However, he revealed that he set firm conditions before accepting the assignment, insisting on direct access to Raila and independence from inner-circle power brokers.
“We had a very professional relationship. But one of the conditions I gave him at that point in time was that I was going to work for him, but I was not going to work for people around him,” he said.
He emphasised that direct engagement with political principals was necessary for him to effectively execute his responsibilities.
“Usually, and if I’m working with any principal, I must have direct access so that I’m able to prosecute effectively the functional mandate that I’ve been assigned to,” he stated.
Owalo said the arrangement worked well, and despite their eventual political separation, he remains grateful to Raila for the opportunity that launched his national political career.
“So I worked very well with Raila, and to date I owe him a great debt of gratitude for having given me that opportunity,” he said.