Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba/FBFormer nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has weighed in on the political realignments taking shape in Luo Nyanza, claiming that President William Ruto is yet to find a leader with genuine grassroots influence in the region following Raila Odinga's demise.
Speaking during a media interview on Friday, Orwoba said that while the President has made visible efforts to court Luo Nyanza leaders, most of them lack the kind of local support that could meaningfully tip the scales in his favour ahead of 2027.
“Ruto is looking for someone who can truly sway Luo Nyanza, but they lack grassroots support,” Orwoba said.
She singled out Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino as among the few leaders with strong grassroots appeal capable of mobilising significant political energy if they chose to chart their own paths.
“Other than Sifuna, Babu Owino, and maybe Caleb (Saboti MP) to some stretch, the rest wouldn’t deliver more than a single vote.”
Her remarks come amid growing speculation over how Ruto plans to consolidate political support in regions traditionally aligned with the opposition in the absence of his foe-turned ally, fomer Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Luo Nyanza has long been considered a stronghold of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), previously led by the late former PM.
According to Orwoba, the real political challenge lies not in appointing influential individuals but in identifying leaders who can rally ordinary voters behind the Kenya Kwanza administration’s “tutam movement.”
"The idea is not an individual but taking an individual who can sway the masses to stay," she stated.
In her opinion, Babu and Sifuna are the magic wand Ruto needs to ensure the broad-based deal holds frame until 2027.
"I think these are people who have their own brands. If they break away and form their own parties the people will just move with them,” Orwoba said.
