Eliud Owalo with late Raila Odinga during a past football match. /ELIUD OWALO/XGor Mahia has appointed the head Government Efficiency Office Eliud Owalo, as acting patron following the untimely death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The announcement was made on Thursday by club chairman Ambrose Rachier, who said Owalo assumes the role immediately to fill the vacuum left by the revered opposition chief.
Raila, who died on Wednesday in India where he was receiving treatment, served as the club’s patron for many years and was widely regarded as one of Gor Mahia’s most passionate supporters.
His involvement went beyond the ceremonial—he often attended matches, supported club initiatives, and contributed financially to its success.
Earlier this year, he donated Sh10 million to help fund the team’s operations for the 2025-26 season.
“Following the sad demise of our long-serving patron, the Right Honourable Raila Amollo Odinga, and in order to avoid the vacuum created thereby, the Gor Mahia Executive Committee wishes to notify the public and members that Deputy Patron Eliud Owalo will act as the club patron with immediate effect,” Rachier said in a statement dated October 16.
Owalo, a long-time admirer of Gor Mahia, was named deputy patron in April this year.
He has since been appointed by President William Ruto as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the President and most recently tasked with heading the newly established Government Efficiency Office, a role that involves streamlining service delivery across state departments.
At his unveiling as deputy patron, Owalo pledged to professionalise the club’s management, secure land for a modern stadium and training facilities, and improve welfare for players and staff.
He also promised to strengthen the club’s administrative structure and restore its status as a top football brand in Africa.
The appointment marks a significant moment for the 21-time Kenyan Premier League champions, who now find themselves navigating a period of grief and transition.
For decades, Raila’s presence at Gor Mahia symbolised a deep bond between politics and football, with the veteran politician often rallying fans and celebrating victories alongside them.
Raila's relationship with the club dates back to the early 1980s when Gor Mahia was emerging as a continental powerhouse.
His passion for the team was legendary—he often described Gor as part of his identity and was known to wear the club’s green colours with pride.
Owalo’s appointment signals a continuation of that legacy, as Gor Mahia looks to the future while honouring the man who stood by it through triumph and tribulation.
"Beyond our professional association, he was a father figure, confidante, and wise counsellor throughout my journey in both the private and public sectors," Owalo said in his tribute on Wednesday.
He traced their working relationship to when Raila was Prime Minister including working to develop the Strategic Plan for the Executive Office of the PM, and later as the secretary general of the Friends of Raila Movement - an initiative he said Raila personally entrusted him to establish.
"I subsequently served as Head of his Presidential Campaign Secretariat and Chief Campaign Manager during his 2013 Presidential bid.
"The Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga’s legacy will forever remain woven into the fabric of our Republic," Owalo said.
