NAIROBI, Kenya — Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has poured cold water on former Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo’s declaration that he intends to run for president in 2027, branding the move unrealistic and politically misplaced without the backing of a major party.
In a pointed response, Odhiambo argued that Owalo’s presidential ambitions lack credibility unless they are firmly anchored within a dominant political formation, warning that an independent or fringe-party bid would be dead on arrival.
She said that without aligning himself to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) or another major outfit, Owalo risks reducing himself to a regional political broker rather than a serious national contender.
According to Odhiambo, such a move would inevitably pit any smaller party Owalo might associate with against the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), particularly in Nyanza, where ODM enjoys deep-rooted grassroots support.
The outspoken legislator further suggested that Owalo’s presidential announcement could be more tactical than literal, serving as a political launchpad for other elective positions rather than a genuine attempt at the presidency.
She pointed to Siaya County’s gubernatorial seat or the Rarieda parliamentary seat as more realistic political options for the former Cabinet Secretary.
“Maybe a launching pad for the gubernatorial position in Siaya or MP Rarieda,” Odhiambo remarked.
Odhiambo dismissed the seriousness of Owalo’s presidential bid if pursued outside those pathways, describing it as politically untenable.
“Presidential bid is hot air, a wild goose chase and a fool’s errand,” she said, insisting that such an ambition makes little sense beyond the alternative routes she outlined.
Owalo, who previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, announced his intention to vie for the presidency on Sunday during the 106th commemoration of the death of his grandfather, Prophet Johanna Owalo, the founder of the Nomiya Church.
The event was held at the church’s headquarters in Oboch, Kisumu County.
Shortly after the declaration, Owalo resigned from his position as Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency, saying his continued stay in government was no longer tenable after declaring his presidential ambitions.
“Following my declaration earlier today that I intend to run for the Presidency of the Republic of Kenya in the year 2027, my position as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Delivery and Government Efficiency is no longer tenable,” Owalo said. “I have therefore resigned from the position with immediate effect.”
Owalo had been overseeing delivery and government efficiency, a role central to coordinating and tracking the implementation of government programmes across ministries, departments and agencies.
His resignation formally clears the way for his entry into the 2027 presidential race, making him one of the earliest aspirants from within the Executive to publicly declare interest in Kenya’s top seat.
