Tuju rules out 2027 Siaya governor bid, cites structural challenges in counties
By Mustafa Juma, August 25, 2025Former Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has dismissed speculation that he is eyeing the Siaya gubernatorial seat in 2027.
According to him, Kenya’s governance problems are largely structural and not tied to who holds office.
Speaking during an interview with a local media station on Monday, August 25, 2025, Tuju said that while some Kenyans have suggested he should contest against current Governor James Orengo, he does not see himself adding any unique value to Siaya’s leadership.
“This is the problem of Kenya, that everything is in terms of political positions,” Tuju said.
“The problems we are facing in the country today are the same as what any county is facing. A multiple of them are structural, and I don’t think that I can be of more use in Siaya than the current governor because of those structural problems.”
Revenue allocation
He further noted that the majority of resources allocated to counties go toward recurrent expenditure, leaving little for development projects.
The former Rarieda Member of Parliament (MP) stressed that, unless there is outright theft of public resources, governors often struggle to achieve much given the current fiscal framework.
“The resources that are made available to the counties are hardly enough for development. Most of it goes to recurrent expenditure. These are fundamental problems, sometimes having nothing to do with the individual occupying the office unless there is stealing of the resources,” he said.
Tuju further added that he has no interest in relocating from Nairobi, where he is based, to pursue political office in Siaya.
“I am not inclined in any way to become a governor of Siaya because I am Nairobi-based,” he clarified.
Tuju on ethnic mobilisation
He also blamed Kenya’s persistent ethnic mobilisation for undermining democracy and shutting out competent leaders.
Tuju, who recently resigned from the Jubilee party, says the practice cost him his political career in Rarieda Constituency.
He recalled his tenure as Rarieda MP, noting that despite what he termed “a fairly incredible job”, his decision to support then-President Mwai Kibaki cost him re-election because of ethnic politics.
“I can tell you, without any fear of contradiction, the biggest problem we have is ethnic mobilisation in our politics. For example, I think I did a fairly incredible job as a Member of Parliament for Rarieda. I could not survive as MP for Rarieda because of ethnic mobilisation at that time. I dared to support President Mwai Kibaki, who was a Kikuyu, and I happened to be Luo,” Tuju said.
There has been growing speculation that he was preparing to mount a challenge to Governor Orengo in 2027. However, he has clarified that his resignation from the Jubilee party was for personal reasons, not political.