Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo has openly poured cold water on former Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo’s declaration to run for president in 2027, branding the move unrealistic and strategically flawed.
Speaking shortly after Owalo’s announcement, Odhiambo argued that presidential ambitions cannot exist in isolation from strong political machinery. In her view, Owalo’s declaration lacks credibility unless it is firmly anchored within a dominant national party.
According to the ODM legislator, Kenyan presidential politics are unforgiving to lone actors or fringe movements. Without backing from a major political formation, she said, such ambitions remain theoretical rather than actionable.
She maintained that Owalo’s announcement, while dramatic, failed to address the basic realities of power, party structures, and voter mobilisation required to mount a serious presidential campaign.
Party Machinery as the Deciding Factor
Odhiambo pointed out that every successful presidential bid in Kenya has relied on a powerful political vehicle with nationwide reach. She argued that Owalo’s political history does not currently place him within such a framework.
The MP stated that unless Owalo seeks the presidency through the ruling United Democratic Alliance, his influence would likely shrink rather than expand. In that case, she warned, he would end up heading a small outfit with limited national appeal.
She further explained that such a party would inevitably clash with the Orange Democratic Movement in Nyanza, a region where ODM has entrenched grassroots support and long-standing loyalty.
In her assessment, competing against ODM in its traditional stronghold would not elevate Owalo nationally. Instead, it would confine him to regional political bargaining rather than genuine presidential contention.
Presidential Bid or Strategic Posturing?
Odhiambo suggested that Owalo’s declaration may not be intended as a literal attempt to capture the presidency. Instead, she hinted that the move could be a strategic positioning exercise aimed at boosting visibility.
She proposed that the announcement might serve as a launching pad for other elective ambitions rather than a genuine pursuit of State House.
Among the alternatives she cited were a possible run for the Siaya governorship or a parliamentary bid for the Rarieda constituency. In her view, those races align more closely with Owalo’s political capital and regional influence.
Such positions, she argued, would offer him tangible platforms to consolidate support and negotiate alliances rather than chase what she termed an unattainable goal.
Harsh Assessment of the Presidential Dream
The Suba North MP did not mince her words when assessing Owalo’s chances outside the options she outlined. She dismissed the seriousness of the presidential bid in blunt terms.
Describing the ambition as empty rhetoric, Odhiambo argued that the declaration lacked grounding in Kenya’s political arithmetic. She insisted that ambition alone does not translate into electoral viability.
Her remarks underscored a broader reality in Kenyan politics, where declarations often outnumber credible pathways to power. Without structure, funding, alliances, and voter networks, such pronouncements rarely progress beyond headlines.
Owalo’s Declaration at a Symbolic Event
Owalo announced his intention to vie for the presidency on Sunday during a significant religious gathering at Oboch in Kisumu County. The event marked the 106th commemoration of the death of Prophet Johanna Owalo.
Prophet Owalo was the founder of the Nomiya Church, one of Kenya’s earliest African independent churches. The occasion drew faithful from across the region, giving the announcement both spiritual and cultural symbolism.
Addressing the congregation, Owalo framed his decision as deliberate and carefully considered. He presented himself as a risk-taker and performer capable of delivering results at the highest level of leadership.
The setting, however, also reinforced the regional nature of the announcement, a point critics say highlights the gap between symbolism and national mobilisation.
Immediate Resignation from Government Role
Alongside his declaration, Owalo announced his immediate resignation from his role as Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency.
He stated that remaining in government after publicly declaring presidential ambitions would be untenable. According to him, ethical considerations demanded a clean break from the Executive.
Owalo’s resignation marked a significant departure from a role that placed him at the centre of government coordination and programme implementation.
The position involved tracking performance across ministries, departments, and agencies, making it one of the most operationally sensitive offices within the Presidency.
Clearing the Path to 2027
By stepping down, Owalo effectively cleared the formal barriers to active political engagement ahead of the 2027 General Election.
His exit makes him one of the earliest individuals from within the Executive to openly declare interest in the presidency. That move has drawn both attention and scrutiny.
Supporters view the resignation as evidence of seriousness and principle. Critics, however, argue that early declarations without visible infrastructure risk fading before campaigns gain momentum.
The timing has also raised questions about whether Owalo can sustain relevance outside government influence while building a national political base from scratch.
A Reality Check on Political Viability
Odhiambo’s remarks reflect a broader skepticism within opposition ranks regarding Owalo’s path forward. Her critique centres less on personality and more on structural realities.
Kenyan presidential races are defined by coalitions, ethnic arithmetic, and resource mobilisation. Aspirants lacking these pillars often become footnotes rather than contenders.
Whether Owalo’s bid evolves into a serious campaign or settles into a negotiating position remains to be seen. What is clear is that declarations alone will not carry him to the ballot.
As political temperatures rise ahead of 2027, early pronouncements are likely to multiply. However, as Odhiambo bluntly suggested, not all ambitions are built to survive the journey from announcement to election day.
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