President William Ruto’s efforts to solidify his bid for re-election in 2027 are beginning to bear fruit in the Nyanza region, a stronghold of his political rival, Raila Odinga.
Among the latest prominent figures to publicly support Ruto is National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who has urged voters in Nyanza to back the President in the upcoming 2027 election.
Speaking during a visit to Suba South, Mbadi praised the Kenya Kwanza government and assured local residents that supporting Ruto would significantly boost the region’s development.
“As you vote for President Ruto in 2027, it will spur development in this region,” said Mbadi, who was once a staunch critic of Ruto.

Mbadi’s remarks come as Raila Odinga vies for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC), with the former ODM leader still maintaining significant support in the region.
Despite this, Mbadi now lauds Ruto’s leadership, especially considering that the Nyanza region overwhelmingly supported Odinga in the 2022 elections.
“Nitashindwa kuamua ni nani nitaunga mkono iwapo Raila Odinga na Rais Ruto watawania urais 2027,” said Mbadi, acknowledging the complex political landscape.
The Cabinet Secretary is among senior government officials who are actively promoting the government’s agenda and urging residents of the Lake Region to re-elect Ruto in the next general election.

“Let this region not waste the chance to support another presidential candidate if Raila Odinga is not running,” he said.
Mbadi’s speech came after he was appointed as the political spokesman for the Nyanza region by local elders in a ceremony held at Kitawa Primary School on Friday. The event was organized to support the Kobunda Scholars Initiative.
Elders from the area attended the ceremony and praised Mbadi for his leadership while he was a Member of Parliament, expressing confidence that he will provide a clear political direction for the community.
President Ruto, who pledged to achieve balanced development across Kenya, highlighted that the Nyanza region strongly opposed him in the 2022 elections, but he has remained committed to ensuring the area benefits from government development projects.
According to Mbadi, his support for Ruto is rooted in the President’s history of backing Odinga, particularly in 2007 when Ruto supported Odinga’s presidential bid during the post-election violence period.
“The entire Rift Valley supported us in 2007, and our community should now support President Ruto in the next election,” said Mbadi.

During his address, Mbadi emphasized that President Ruto cares about Nyanza and that the government is implementing various development projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of the residents.
Among the projects mentioned by Mbadi are the tarmacking of the 73-kilometer Mbita-Sindo-Magunga-Sori road, the Lake Victoria roads, and other infrastructure developments that are set to transform the region.
“We expect more benefits from the government. Let us continue supporting an inclusive government,” said Mbadi.