By ERIC JUMA
Government Spokesperson Charles Owino has ruled out contesting for any elective political seat in future, saying he will remain in public service until retirement and limit his political role to offering guidance.
Speaking to chiefs and their assistants in Siaya town on Sunday, Owino said he had abandoned his ambition to become Siaya governor and would instead focus on his government duties.
The former police spokesperson said he would work with leaders entrusted with political responsibility in the 2027 General Election to improve the livelihoods of Siaya residents.
Owino had previously declared interest in the Siaya gubernatorial seat but shelved his bid and returned to the National Police Service (NPS) where he holds the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).
He resigned as police spokesperson in 2021 to pursue the gubernatorial seat on an ODM ticket but failed to secure the party leadership’s backing. He subsequently left ODM in March 2022.
Later that month, he abandoned his gubernatorial ambitions and agreed to deputise former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo in the 2022 General Election.
“I want to thank all the chiefs who stood with me when I came to run for the Siaya top job. Today, I have declared that I will not run for it anymore, but I will work closely with those entrusted with leadership in 2027 to ensure our people put food on the table and have money in their pockets,” Owino said.
He said he had chosen to serve in the broad-based government, which he described as the political arrangement under which the late Raila Odinga had left him serving.
“I have chosen to work in the government where the late Raila Odinga left me, the broad-based government. I thought I could take up the leadership mantle in 2022 to relieve our people from extreme poverty and hunger, but things went contrary to my expectations,” he said.
Owino added that he would now concentrate on supporting leaders capable of transforming the lives of Siaya residents, citing his age as one of the reasons for abandoning his political ambitions.
“For now, there is no change I would bring to our people because age has caught up with me. However, I will work with those yet to be entrusted with leadership to transform the lives of Siaya residents,” he said.
He added that he would remain in government service and expressed hope that he could eventually rise to the position of Inspector General of Police rather than continue pursuing the Siaya governorship.
Owino also criticised Siaya Governor James Orengo’s decision to use the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) as his political vehicle for the 2027 General Election, arguing that the party would struggle to gain traction under the broad-based government.
Orengo has announced that LDP will serve as his political platform and said it would cooperate with other opposition formations to challenge President William Ruto in the next election.
He has called for a united opposition front involving leaders and parties associated with Kalonzo Musyoka, the Wiper Democratic Movement, the Ukombozi faction of Jubilee associated with Fred Matiang’i, and other political formations.
Responding to Orengo’s plans, Owino said the governor was entitled to establish and lead a political party but questioned his ability to attract political support under the current political arrangement.
“It is Orengo’s right to be a party leader, but he does not wield any power that can attract political fortunes in this era of the broad-based government,” Owino said.
He argued that Orengo’s experience was better suited to legislative roles than positions requiring a strong development record.
“Orengo is my friend and a brother, but he has zero development track record,” he said.
Backs Ochieng, Ochanda for governor
Owino urged Siaya residents to consider Movement for Development and Growth (MDG) leader David Ochieng and Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda as potential candidates for the county’s top seat in 2027.
He said the two leaders had development records that qualified them for consideration, although he maintained that the final decision rested with voters.
“I cannot decide for you whom to back for the Siaya top seat in 2027, but Ochanda and Ochieng fit the bill,” he said.
“The duo’s development track records speak volumes,” he added.
Owino challenged residents to communicate their preferences early if they were not interested in either candidate, saying this would allow political leaders to consider other options.
He warned against electing leaders who, he claimed, would spend heavily to secure votes before seeking to recover their campaign expenses through access to public resources.
“Siaya cannot be left in the hands of gamblers who will dish out KSh100 million to voters to secure the post and then opt for fund-recovery plots, thus compromising development,” he said.
He said the county needed leaders committed to public service rather than personal enrichment.
“Siaya has reached a level where it wants servant leadership, not politicians seeking to enrich themselves with public resources,” Owino said.
He identified the revival of the stalled Lower Nzoia irrigation project as one of the priorities for the next county leadership, arguing that increased rice production could help address food deficits and strengthen the local economy.
“We want a leader who would use networks to push for the revival of the Lower Nzoia irrigation project, which has stalled, so that rice production can increase and address the deficits,” he said.
Owino also expressed confidence that projects earmarked for implementation in the Nyanza region would be completed before the 2027 General Election.
He cited the role of National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee chair Samuel Atandi and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi in advancing the region’s development priorities.
“We have no doubts that the projects prioritised for implementation in the Nyanza region will be done because we have Budget chair Samuel Atandi and Treasury CS John Mbadi. It is time for Nyanza to fix its economy, which has suffered under previous regimes,” he said.
