Millie Odhiambo dismisses Owalo’s 2027 presidential bid as hot air
By Mustafa Juma, January 12, 2026Suba North Member of Parliament (MP) Millie Odhiambo has dismissed Eliud Owalo’s 2027 presidential bid.
Taking to her official Facebook page on Sunday, January 11, 2026, Odhiambo described Owalo’s bid as hot air and a wild goose chase.
She argued that if Owalo, who has since resigned as President William Ruto’s Deputy Chief of Staff, does not vie on a ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, he would become a kingpin of a smaller party that would then fight against the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The vocal female lawmaker also viewed Owalo’s declaration of a presidential bid as a launching pad for a gubernatorial position in Siaya county or a parliamentary seat in the Rarieda constituency.
“Former CS Eliud Owalo has declared he is vying as president. My assessment is: 1. If he does not vie in UDA, he becomes a kingpin of a smaller party that then fights out against ODM. 2. May be a launching pad for Gubernatorial position Siaya or MP Rarieda. 3. Presidential bid is hot air, wild goose chase and fools errand outside 1 and 2,” Millie Odhiambo wrote on Facebook.
Owalo’s 2027 presidential bid
Eliud Owalo has declared his intention to vie for the presidency in 2027.
Owalo made the announcement on Sunday, January 11, 2026, during the commemoration of the 106th anniversary of his grandfather, Prophet Johanna Owalo, founder of the Nomiya Church, at Oboch in Rarieda constituency.
While suggesting that his past political experiences have shaped his resolve to chart an independent path, the former Cabinet Secretary declared that come 2027, he will submit his candidature for the presidency of the Republic of Kenya.
Tracing his political history, Owalo recalled his role as Raila Odinga’s chief campaign manager in 2013, his subsequent work with Musalia Mudavadi at ANC, and his current position alongside President William Ruto since 2019. He described these experiences as lessons that have prepared him for the ultimate leadership role.
“Come 2027, I want to change the paradigm. I will not continue to work for political individuals, but I want to work for the Kenyan people. And in that regard, informed by the lessons I have learnt in the past, emerging issues in the operational environment, and feedback I have received from various stakeholder forums which I have held over the past month, including but not limited to Nomiya Church, I have today made a deliberate and conscious decision that come the year 2027, I will be submitting myself as a candidate for the purposes of the presidential race in the elections for the purposes of the presidency in the republic of Kenya,” Owalo said.
Owalo resigns from Ruto’s administration
Moments later, Owalo resigned from his government position as Deputy Chief of Staff for Delivery and Government Efficiency.
In a statement posted on his Facebook account on Sunday, January 11, 2026, Owalo said his position in government was no longer tenable following his decision to challenge President William Ruto in the upcoming polls.
“Following my declaration earlier today that I intend to run for Presidency of the Republic of Kenya in the year 2027, my position as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Delivery and Government Efficiency, is no longer tenable,” Owalo stated.
He said he had stepped aside from the role with immediate effect.