Former State House Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo has urged Cooperatives and SMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya to rally the Western region behind his presidential bid.

Speaking on Saturday, January 31, 2026, while inviting Oparanya to deliver a condolence message to the family of the late Grace Aluanga, Owalo appealed to the Cabinet Secretary to help consolidate support from the Mulembe region, which boasts over two million registered voters.

According to him, the region’s numbers could significantly strengthen his bid for the presidency in 2027.

“May I invite Wycliffe Oparanya as I appeal to him to rally the Western region behind my presidential bid?” Owalo said.

In a light-hearted response, Oparanya pushed back, jokingly warning Owalo that he would be fired if he went ahead to openly support his presidential ambitions.

Owalo’s remarks come days after he was edged out of government following the Gen Z protests and later reassigned as Deputy Chief of Staff, a position he held until his exit from office, officially declared his interest in the presidency.

Owalo said his decision to run is driven by his desire to lead the country into what he described as the “third and final liberation”, which he believes will be an economic liberation.

Economic reforms

He outlined several economic reforms he would pursue if elected, including reducing value-added tax from the current 16 per cent to 10 per cent, lowering income tax from 35 per cent to 20 per cent, and cutting the housing levy from 2.5 per cent to 0.5 per cent.

He also pledged to abolish the digital tax, which currently stands at 4 per cent on digital appliances and income earned by creatives, saying the move would help position Kenya as a digital hub.

“The first thematic area I am addressing is taxation. I want to bring down the income tax from 35 per cent to 20 per cent, VAT from 16 to 10 per cent, and lower the housing levy from 2.5 to 0.5 per cent, and completely do away with digital tax, especially on digital appliances, with a real focus on turning Kenya into a real digital economy,” he said.

Why vie for Presidency?

Owalo dismissed claims that his presidential bid is backed by powerful interests, insisting that the decision to vie is entirely his own and not influenced by any individual.

He further explained that his resolve to contest was informed by his extensive travels across the country while serving in public office, particularly during President William Ruto’s tenure. According to Owalo, many Kenyans at the grassroots have consistently raised concerns about their quality of life, despite the government’s continued assurances that development is taking place.