Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has said President William Ruto is still struggling to identify a political figure with genuine grassroots influence in Luo Nyanza following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking during a media interview on Friday, Orwoba observed that although the President has made deliberate efforts to court leaders from the region, most of them lack the kind of local support that could significantly alter the political balance ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Ruto is looking for someone who can truly sway Luo Nyanza, but they lack grassroots support,” Orwoba stated.
She named Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino as some of the few leaders with strong grassroots appeal, noting that they command substantial followings that could shape future political dynamics if they chose to chart their own paths.
“Other than Sifuna, Babu Owino, and maybe Caleb (Saboti MP) to some extent, the rest wouldn’t deliver more than a single vote,” she said.
Her remarks come amid growing speculation about President Ruto’s strategy to consolidate political support in opposition strongholds following the demise of his long-time rival-turned ally, Raila Odinga.
According to Orwoba, the real political challenge lies in identifying leaders who can rally ordinary voters behind the Kenya Kwanza administration’s “Tutam Movement.”
“The idea is not about appointing an individual but finding someone who can sway the masses to stay,” she explained.
Orwoba further suggested that Sifuna and Babu Owino could become game changers in the post-Raila political landscape, saying both have built personal brands that resonate strongly with the youth and urban voters.
“I think these are people who have their own brands. If they broke away and formed their own parties, people would simply move with them,” she said, adding that a Babu Owino-led party could “attract massive membership within two weeks.”
The former senator noted that the current political vacuum in ODM following Raila’s death presents an opportunity for a new generation of leaders to rise within the Nyanza region.
“It’s up to leaders like Babu to rise to the occasion and lead their people, especially now when ODM’s direction seems uncertain,” she said.
