Boost for Ruth Odinga as Ouda, Bob CEO back her gubernatorial bid

Two key contenders for the vote-rich Kisumu Central constituency have vowed to back her gubernatorial bid, even as all alignments and counter realignments are expected going forward.

Former MP Fred Ouda and prominent businessman Edward Onyango alias Bob CEO have both declared their intent to support her gubernatorial bid, pledging to campaign under the ODM ticket while backing her candidacy.

The two figures, speaking at a private strategy meeting held at Ruth Odinga’s home in Kisumu on Friday evening, confirmed their commitment to rallying their political bases behind the seasoned Odinga. They further announced their own ambitions to run for the Kisumu Central parliamentary seat.

Kisumu Central constituency is the largest within Kisumu county with over 130,000 registered voters. In the 2022 election, 82,358 people turned up to vote, translating to about 63.2 per cent voter turnout.

Businessman Joshua Oron, who is now eyeing governorship seat, garnered 54,060 votes to floor then incumbent area MP Fred Ouda who managed 26,104 votes as an Independent candidate. The four other contenders garnered less than 1,000 votes each.

This endorsement represents an early consolidation of political forces around Ruth Odinga, a move that could give her a head start in what is expected to be a crowded and high-stakes race to succeed governor Nyong’o, who is serving his second and final term.

By gaining the support of Fred Ouda, a former MP with grassroots networks in Kisumu Central, and Edward Onyango – a wealthy businessman with ties to the informal sector and youth groups – Ruth is signaling that her campaign will not merely rely on the Odinga name, but on an alliance of actors capable of mobilizing both votes and resources.

“I am truly honoured by this show of confidence,” Ruth said during the meeting. “I will not let you down. I intend to traverse every corner of Kisumu County and share my vision for a better, more inclusive county government.”

While ODM remains the dominant political party in Kisumu County, the governorship is far from secured. The ruling party is expected to attract a long list of aspirants — including, notably, Oron.

Bob CEO. Photo/Courtesy

With both Ouda and Onyango pledging to contest their respective seats on an ODM ticket, the duo appears to be preparing to compete not only in the general election, but more crucially, in the party’s internal nomination process, widely regarded as the true battleground in ODM strongholds like Kisumu.

This raises key questions about ODM’s internal cohesion heading into 2027. Will the party conduct free and credible nominations? Will losing candidates back the winners, or will the party suffer the kind of fragmentation seen in 2022, when Ouda ran as an independent candidate after losing the ODM ticket?

Ruth Odinga who is sister to ODM party leader Raila Odinga brings both name recognition and controversy to the race. Her long-standing role in Nyanza politics gives her an established base. Her current role as Woman Rep has seen her increase visibility, especially on women and youth issues.

Support from younger or middle-aged politicians like Ouda and Onyango may help her shake off the “dynasty” label and present herself as a unifying candidate with a coalition of both experience and fresh energy.

“This is not about names or families,” said Edward Onyango during the meeting. “This is about delivering for the people of Kisumu. Ruth Odinga has the experience, the networks, and the integrity to take Kisumu to the next level.”

ODM’s ability to manage its nomination process could determine whether the party retains a unified front or suffers another round of intra-party fallout. If Ruth Odinga wins the ODM ticket, she will be heavily favored to win the general election – barring a major independent challenge or fragmentation of the vote.

But the entrance of other heavyweights like Oron, or possible late entrants from civil society, business, or even former governors, could complicate that path.

For Ruth Odinga, the endorsements give her momentum and political capital within ODM, particularly in Kisumu Central. She now needs to broaden her base across Seme, Nyando, Nyakach, Muhoroni, and Kisumu East — areas where other aspirants may have a stronger hold.

For ODM Party politics, this development could signal the formation of early camps or “slates” within the Orange formation,, echoing past elections where group endorsements shaped internal primaries. A contested primary is all but guaranteed.

With just under two years until the 2027 general election, Kisumu politics is already heating up. The alliance between Ruth Odinga, Fred Ouda, and Edward Onyango has redefined the early contours of the race, signaling a shift from fragmented personal ambition to coordinated political strategy.

Whether this is enough to clinch the ODM ticket, and ultimately the governorship, will depend on the strength of her ground campaign, party loyalty, and ability to bridge Kisumu’s urban-rural political divide.