Various leaders serving in the National Assembly, Senate, and the County Assemblies have started angling for new elective positions in Nyanza.

The leaders are leaving nothing to chance. Their charm offensives are beginning in earnest ahead of the next 2027 General Elections.

Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga has become the latest ODM MP to enter the race to become the next Kisumu Governor.

Confirming her candidacy, Ms Odinga said she wants to bring in transformational leadership to the lakeside county.

“I you know what you want, you begin early know how best to get there. You start talking to the people now to prepare the way,’’ she said

Odinga quipped: ‘‘Your underlying goal is to own your time so that you can pursue your goals at will in this liberalized democratic world.’’

It means that one has to focus on the things that make him or her happy, with happiness being the ultimate goal for us all,” said Odinga.

Over the years, she said they have had the pleasure of working with thousands of people who are now convicted she runs for Governor.

Under pressure

“I have been under a lot of pressure to declare interest, now I have to, because the calls are overwhelming. I am in the race,’’ Odinga declared.

Currently, the most high-profile candidates so far are Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili and Senator Tom Ojienda.

Then there is MP for Kisumu Central Joshua Oron and Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor who threw their hats into the ring last year.

Ojienda, though elected in ODM party, has since switched allegiance to UDA and may run either as an independent candidate or on UDA ticket.

Each said. “Everyone is welcome and the race is still open,’’ Aduma said, “I firmly in the race,’’ Owili said. “I am the man to watch,” Oron qupped: “Ballot is my stop.”

Reaching out

The candidates have all begun earnest search for votes round Kisumu County each week reaching out to the electorates and selling their ideas.

They want to succeed Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o serving his last term in office.  Nyongo by law, will not be eligible to run again.

But there are proposals; Nyong’o said he is weighing in, which includes calls to serve again in the Senate upon exiting the Governors helm.

This, he said, he was considering as his tenure nears end. In the past, he had announced to retire and join the Anglican Church pulpit as a lay pastor.

“Yes… you have to prepare for retirement and make good plans. I am weighing a number of options; I will decide on the best at the right hour.’’

But there are ceaseless calls from the ODM political party circles, that instead of retiring, he switches to the Senate and Nyong’o is now reconsidering this.

In Homabay County, Nominated MP John Mbadi has also dropped bid for Governor post.

He will be reverting to Suba South Constituency, currently held by Omondi Caroli, who has switched allegiance to UDA. Mbadi finds him now easy to beat, having pulled parallel to the ODM established.