Uriri MP Mark Nyamita has become a political sensation both online and offline with his now-famous “byeee” catchphrase, a satirical sign-off that has added colour to the Migori governor race ahead of the 2027 general election.
The phrase has caught on widely, becoming common among children and adults across the county and beyond.
Nyamita, now serving his second term, has declared his bid to unseat Governor Ochillo Ayacko. The Star sat down with the MP to discuss his achievements, his governor ambition and the story behind his viral slogan.
What have you done as an MP?
When I took office, we invited applications for bursaries and received only about 3,500. I decided to award every applicant. The next day, my home was flooded with people who said they had applied for earlier years but never received anything, so they had lost faith in the process.
When I investigated further, I discovered that bursary cheques had been issued selectively and sometimes at night. In the following year, applications rose from 3,500 to 13,000. Today, we receive about 21,000 bursary applications — a clear sign of restored confidence.
We are the only constituency in Nyanza that has fully digitised bursary applications. Our students apply online from anywhere. We have been paperless for three years. The NG-CDF Board is now adopting the same system nationally. Previously, only 300–350 students from our constituency joined the university annually; today, we send about 1,400 students to the university each year.
We have also ensured equitable distribution of CDF resources to all our 140 primary schools and 48 secondary schools. The community chooses Project Management Committees, and the head teacher must sign off before any project is approved as complete. All contractors come from within the locality to stimulate the local economy.
We have tiled all new classrooms, built several bridges and established Uriri Technical and Vocational College, which now has about 3,000 students. We have changed household conversations from despair over school fees to hope for opportunities.
You have declared an interest the Migori governor seat. Has the current governor failed the people?
I must say — and not because I am running for governor — that I am deeply disappointed by the county government’s performance. Migori receives about Sh12 billion annually. Of that, roughly Sh4 billion is allocated for development. With 40 wards, that translates to about Sh100 million per ward annually. After three years, residents should be seeing projects worth at least Sh300 million in each ward. Yet you will struggle to identify even one tangible project.
Our referral hospital lacks running water. Patients buy basic supplies. Medical staff lack gloves. The theatre is not functional. Our revenue collection is still manual. Meanwhile, neighbouring counties like Kisii, Homa Bay and Narok have moved ahead.
Migori is uniquely positioned — we border Tanzania, Uganda through Lake Victoria at Migingo and Maasai Mara; we have sugar factories, gold and copper mining, fishing and an airstrip for Mara visitors. Yet our revenue is the lowest in the region. We should be collecting twice what Homa Bay collects.
Is this why you want to run for governor?
My priority is health. For a poor person, the only hope is education and healthcare. Every household should have access to a nearby health facility staffed with adequate personnel and stocked with medicine. The biggest problem in our health sector is corruption.
My second priority is water. In some areas, people drink water so dirty that even my cow wouldn’t drink it. Towns like Sori still lack clean water. Women walk four kilometres just to fetch water.
Third is infrastructure — access to health centres and markets. Many cannot reach hospitals due to bad roads, yet the county owns road machinery and borehole rigs and employs operators. Fuel alone stands between us and motorable roads.
I also believe our county assemblies must broadcast their proceedings so residents can know what MCAs discuss and how laws are passed.
Your “byeee” catchphrase has gone viral. How did you come up with it?
Our politics has been too personalised — full of insults and at times, violence. When leaders clash, people get injured and messages are lost. I decided we must change that narrative and focus on issues.
I tell leaders: if you have nothing to show for your time in office, you should go home. That includes me too. Politics should be like sports — a bit of satire so people enjoy the debate. “Bye” is meant to provoke thought and act as a wake-up call.
Don’t you think it is provocative to your opponent?
Only if they have nothing to show. If you are building a hospital, you can respond and say so. If you have unfinished work, you can point it out.
Do you talk with the governor?
Yes. I separate politics from personal issues. We meet at functions and even share meals. I have no personal problem with him — only with non-performance.
Has he ever asked you to stop the slogan?
Many times. He has asked me to let him finish his second term. I told him I have no problem if he can show any work he is doing. Interestingly, he supported me in 2013 — he gave me his PA system and campaign space. He believed in me then.
Will you run on an ODM ticket?
Yes, I am a member of ODM. What matters now is rallying people who believe in the cause. We will choose the political vehicle at the right time.
You were among ODM MPs who faced disciplinary action for working with President William Ruto. Have you reconciled?
It was a misunderstanding. The President holds two roles — head of state and UDA party leader — and the party struggled to distinguish the two. When I met him, it was in his capacity as President. The tribunal ruled in my favour, and today ODM is part of the broad-based government. The matter is resolved.
What is happening within ODM regarding the broad-based government?
We have been in opposition for long. Criticism is easier from the outside. Now, some of our members are in government. But because parts of our region were neglected in past regimes, people expected miracles overnight. Impatience is driving some frustrations.
Your final remarks?
In Matthew 3:10, the Bible says: “The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down.” As we approach the elections, I tell Kenyans: the axe is at the root. Identify any tree that bears no fruit and cut it down.
