KISUMU,November 2026 – The Nyakach Professional Network has begun consultations with gubernatorial aspirants from Nyakach as it seeks to identify one candidate to advance the sub-county’s interests in the 2027 Kisumu governor’s race.
The initiative will involve meetings with the three aspirants identified by the network: Nyakach Member of Parliament Aduma Owuor, Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili and Senator Professor Tom Ojienda.
The group says it intends to assess their leadership qualities and development records before making its position known.
Speaking after a meeting with Aduma Owuor in Kisumu on Sunday, Network Chairman Gerald Ondiek said the initiative was intended to promote unity within Nyakach and strengthen its voice in the county-wide contest.
“The intention of this group is to unite Nyakach,” Ondiek said. He cited the region’s argument for a turn at the governorship, noting that Nyando (Kano) and Seme had previously held the county’s top office.
Ondiek said the network would examine each aspirant’s strengths before settling on a preferred candidate.
“The role of this group is to look into these three candidates from Nyakach, evaluate them, look at each one’s strength so that we come up with the best candidate,” he said.
Network Secretary Collins Koremo said members had agreed to engage all three aspirants before reaching a decision.
He said the process would focus on identifying a candidate capable of representing Nyakach in the gubernatorial race.
“As professionals, we will take it upon ourselves to engage other contestants with the resolve of getting one single candidate from Nyakach sub-county,” Koremo said.
Koremo said Owili was expected to be the next aspirant engaged, with Ojienda also scheduled for a similar consultation.
He said the network intended to consider each candidate’s leadership capacity and development record, and announce its verdict before the end of the year.
Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor, who hosted the delegation, welcomed the initiative, saying prospective leaders should be open to scrutiny by professionals and other stakeholders.
“When you want to lead the people, you have to be assessed by others. You cannot be your own judge, and the best people who can judge us are these professionals and businessmen,” he said.
Owuor said he was also engaging aspirants from elsewhere in Kisumu in pursuit of a united county approach.
“I’m also in talks with other candidates from outside Nyakach so that we could have a united Kisumu,” Owuor said.
He thanked the network for its contribution to discussions on county leadership and public accountability.
The proposed vetting process comes as several politicians consider bids to succeed Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o in 2027.
Its outcome could influence Nyakach’s political positioning, although the final choice of a county candidate will depend on the wider electoral and party processes.
