Ruto rushes to secure Gusii vote as Matiang’i 2027 bid shakes political ground
By Robert Ochoro, November 22, 2025President William Ruto is targeting the Gusii voting bloc amid stiff opposition after former Interior and National Coordination Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i announced his presidential bid in the next general poll.
The Head of State’s popularity in the Gusii region is also facing a political test in the impending mini-polls for Nyamaiya, Nyasiongo, and Ekerenyo Wards, where his party and opposition parties have fielded candidates and are scrambling for voters to prove their political supremacy.
Ruto’s political foot soldiers – Japhet Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache North constituency), Silvanus Osoro (South Mugirango), and Joash Nyamoko (North Mugirango) – have camped in the wards drumming support for United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidates Thomas Nyandiekz (Nyamaiya Ward) and Dennis Kebaso (Nyansiongo).
Conversely, Kitutu Masaba lawmaker Clive Gisairo, Senator Okong’o Omogeni, and former South Mugirango legislator Omingo Magara are campaigning for Jackson Mogusu under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nyansiongo Ward, while Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo is rooting for United Progressive Alliance’s Kevin Maranga, both under the united opposition.
Ruto on opposition politics
The President has vowed to maintain the Gusii region voting bloc, dominated by former late Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic (ODM) Party, and wants residents to shun opposition politics.
“I challenge the opposition to avoid ‘one term’ and ‘Kasongo must go’; huo ni ujinga (that is nonsense),” Ruto said after he graced the 11th anniversary of Gospel Embassy Chapel in Kisii county on Saturday, November 22, 2025.
He told the opposition leaders to articulate their policies and agenda to members of the public, saying his government is implementing several development projects across the country and he will not allow opposition politics to derail him.
The Head of State appealed to residents not to allow political leaders to divide them along ethnic lines and hatred, saying such politics has no vision and has no place in modern Kenya.
“I have talked to your leaders. I will not leave the Gusii community behind in my development agenda. I want us to move together as we strive to make our country the first world,” Ruto told the congregation.
The president said some members of the Gusii community stay in Eldoret, and he has roots in the community, saying it was necessary for Kenyans to unite and develop the country together.
Accompanied by lawmakers Zaheer Jhanda (Nyaribari Chache), Steve Mogaka (West Mugirango), Jerusa Momanyi (Nyamira County), Dorice Donya (Kisii County), Essy Okenyuri (nominated senator), Alfa Miruka (Bomachoge Chache), Kisii County deputy governor Elijah Obebo, Nyamira County Assembly Speaker Thaddeus Nyabaro and the Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, he assured residents that the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will have a terminus at Ikonge in Nyamira County en route to Kisumu and Malava to help residents ferry their goods to various parts of the country.
Gusii stadium expansion
The President challenged the county government to process documents to help the government shift the Southern Kenya Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) to pave the way for the expansion of the Gusii stadium to international standards.
Osoro, who is the majority chief whip, told residents to allow leaders from other communities to campaign in the region so that they can also be allowed to campaign for their presidential candidates in other parts of the country.
The lawmaker said the next general election is far off and challenged leaders to focus on development projects being implemented in the region and ensure they are completed to benefit residents.
“Our people stay everywhere in Kenya. We want everybody to campaign here freely for the sake of peace and unity of our country,” Osoro said, adding that he will not be lured to abandon the government and join the opposition prematurely.
Governor Simba Arati, who is also ODM Deputy Party Leader, has maintained he will work with the government under the UDA/ODM broad-based government till the next General Election, emphasising that members of the Gusii community pay taxes to the national government and deserve to benefit from it.