Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has declared Siaya County a stronghold of President William Ruto’s re-election campaign, saying leaders in the region have resolved to back his bid for a second term in the August 2027 General Election.
Wandayi said leaders from Siaya had begun mobilising support for Ruto, expressing confidence that the President would secure a second term despite uncertainty over his potential challengers.
Speaking after meeting a delegation of Siaya leaders, including MPs, Deputy Governor William Oduol, County Assembly Speaker George Okode and members of the county assembly, Wandayi said the region was firmly behind the broad-based government arrangement.
He described Siaya as a “two-term zone” and urged leaders who had not yet joined the campaign to rally behind the president.
“We are essentially a two-term zone, and that is not going to change. We appeal to any other person who might still be out there to join the winning team,” Wandayi said.
He said the leaders recognised Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga as the legitimate leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and pledged their support for his leadership.
Wandayi said backing Ruto was also a way of honouring the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whom he said had charted the path of cooperation with the President before his death.
“As Raila’s followers, we only followed one command, Raila’s command. Before he died, he commanded us to work with President William Ruto, and that is what we are doing,” he said.
The CS argued that the region’s support for Ruto was informed not only by the political arrangement between ODM and the ruling coalition but also by what he described as the President’s development record in Nyanza.
He said Ruto had demonstrated goodwill towards the region through the implementation of development projects across the four counties of Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori.
He said the President had demonstrated commitment to the region during the current political partnership, making the decision to support his re-election an easy one for the leaders.
“We have a very easy choice to make. Regardless of who will be fielded by the other group, we are going to defeat them and rally firmly behind President William Ruto,” Wandayi said.
Siaya County Assembly Speaker George Okode said MCAs had resolved to support Ruto’s re-election and would sustain their mobilisation efforts beyond the 2027 polls.
Okode said the meeting was convened to deliberate on the county assembly’s role in advancing the two-term agenda.
“The members have resolved that they are not looking back. They have resolved to support President Ruto for a second term without apologies and without contradiction,” he said.
He added that the leaders believed the President had demonstrated goodwill towards the region, citing what they considered evidence of his commitment to the people of Nyanza.
Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda said leaders and elders in Siaya had made a deliberate choice to support Ruto for a second term.
“We are all in this together. The leaders of Siaya have made a deliberate choice. We do not have any other option but two terms,” Ochanda said.
He said leaders would hold a series of meetings and consultations across the county to consolidate support for the President ahead of the election.
The leaders’ declaration signals an effort by Ruto’s allies in Siaya to strengthen his support in the region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
