Raphael Tuju rules out Siaya governor bid after Jubilee exit
By Joel Masibo, August 25, 2025Former Rarieda Member of Parliament Raphael Tuju has confirmed that he is not interested in running for the seat of Siaya Governor, days after resigning from Jubilee Party.
Speaking on a local radio station on Monday, August 25, 2025, Tuju also said he left Jubilee with personal reasons, further stating that he wanted to own his opinion, instead of being mistaken for speaking on behalf of any quarter.
The former Jubilee Party Secretary General said he is not of more value to the Siaya County residents than the current Governor James Orengo.
”In this country, everything is seen in political positions. I don’t think I can be of more use to Siaya than the current governor. I’m inclined in any way to become Siaya Governor, I am based in Nairobi.” Raphael Tuju said.
”I wanted to walk into a free space and air my opinion, talk without the Jubilee Party worrying. I wanted to speak freely. Looking at my political career, I think I have done my best. This is a personal decision, just like it was a personal decision to join Jubilee. No hard feelings” Tuju said.
Tuju’s resignation
In a resignation letter dated August 19, 2025, Tuju expressed gratitude to former President Uhuru Kenyatta for entrusting him with the powerful position of Secretary General between 2016 and 2022, describing the move as a bold political step given his ethnic background.
“It was an exceptionally bold political step on your part to have entrusted this sensitive position to me as a person coming from the Luo tribe, while the anchor of the party was essentially the Kikuyu and Kalenjin tribes,” Tuju wrote.
Tuju noted that Jubilee was born out of a dream to transcend tribal politics and create a truly national party but acknowledged the challenges that came with Kenya’s polarised ethnic landscape.
Tuju emphasised his loyalty to Uhuru throughout his tenure in government and noted the irony of Kenyan politics, pointing out that President William Ruto himself was forced into a handshake with Raila following the Gen Zs protests of 2024.
“In the ever-evolving ironies of Kenyan politics, after the Gen Z riots of 2024, President Ruto, now bearing the full responsibility of the weight of carrying the state, had to make compromises and do exactly what you had done in 2018: shake hands with Raila Odinga,” Tuju remarked.
In the letter, Tuju also urged Kenyans to look beyond ethnic divisions and focus on shared challenges such as unemployment and poverty, which he described as the real enemies of progress.