KISUMU, Sept 2026 – As the race to succeed Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o heats up ahead of the 2027 General Election, gubernatorial aspirant Rodgers Okeya has unveiled a five-point agenda dubbed Developing Kisumu.
Okeya, who is vying for the Babu Owino-led Mwananchi Party (TMP) and is popularly known as Omedo Raha, said poverty emerged as the biggest concern during his engagement with residents at Goan Hall in Milimani, Kisumu, on Saturday,26th September 2026.
“We wanted to understand where we are as a community in 2026, where we have come from before independence, post-independence and after devolution, and where we are heading towards 2027,” he said during a press briefing in Kisumu.
According to him, poverty is the root of other challenges facing the county including unemployment, insecurity and goonism.
Okeya said his agenda is anchored on Kisumu’s oil potential. He cited oil deposits estimated at 800 million barrels discovered during President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, and argued that Kisumu should be included in national oil revenue sharing.
“This is a blessing that has never happened in this region. Every barrel taken will never be replenished, so we must use it to build permanent intellectual capital,” he said, proposing to channel oil revenue into education from ECDE to university, including opportunities to study abroad.
He argued Kisumu has comparative advantages for oil exploration over Turkana’s Lokichar, citing abundant water from Lake Victoria and a more stable security environment that would reduce costs on water transport and military protection.
He further said Dangote’s refinery plans in Lamu and Turkana oil fields show the viability of local exploration, and as governor he would push for Kisumu to work with the national government and multinationals to exploit the resource.
His second pillar focuses on empowering local businesses through training, financing and market linkages for SMEs, Jua Kali and agribusinesses.
Third, he proposes a 10-year pause on Standard Gauge Railway operations in Kisumu to give local businesses, trade and jobs room to grow and attract investment.
Fourth, he pledged free ECDE meals, free healthcare for pregnant women, maternity care and healthcare for children under five.
Fifth, he plans to pursue a Free City Charter and position Kisumu as a global business hub to attract investment in BPOs, AI and data centres, modern hotels, maritime and cruise industry and tourism.
Okeya said residents who attended the Goan Hall meeting agreed to rally behind his party leader Babu Owino.
He joins a crowded gubernatorial field that includes Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga, Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu, Kisumu Central MP Dr Joshua Oron, Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili, Senator Prof Tom Ojienda, former Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura, Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor and former Governor Jack Ranguma, among others.
