Hours after announcing his intention to contest the presidency in the 2027 General Election, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency at the Office of the President, Eliud Owalo, has resigned from his position.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Owalo said his continued service in government was no longer tenable following the declaration of his presidential bid.
“Following my declaration earlier today that I intend to run for Presidency of the Republic of Kenya in the year 2027, my position as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Delivery and Government Efficiency is no longer tenable,” said Owalo.
“I have therefore resigned from the position with immediate effect.”
Owalo has been serving as Deputy Chief of Staff, overseeing delivery and government efficiency, a key role responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and tracking the implementation of government programmes across ministries, departments, and agencies.
His entry into the 2027 presidential race marks a significant political shift for Owalo, who has previously worked closely with major political figures, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi, and currently President William Ruto.
He said his decision reflects a move away from supporting individual leaders to directly championing development for the Kenyan people.
Speaking after a church service in Kiusmu County on Sunday, Owalo called on residents of the Nyanza region to embrace “a politics of action rather than rhetoric,” as he outlined a development-focused agenda aimed at transforming the region.
He explained the need to expand water infrastructure projects, including the Koru–Soin dams, to mitigate flooding, support power generation, enhance food security, and improve last-mile water connectivity.
Owalo also emphasised the importance of completing the Lake Victoria Ring Road to connect Busia to Migori and boost regional and cross-border trade with Uganda and Tanzania.
On economic transformation, he proposed upgrading Kisumu International Airport to handle cargo, arguing that the region should directly export fish, agricultural produce, and other goods to international markets.
He further called for the establishment of processing factories for fish, livestock products, hides and skins, potatoes, avocado, tea, coffee, and soapstone to promote value addition within Nyanza.
Owalo also advocated for the revival of the sugar, rice, and cotton industries, reforms in the mining sector to ensure local communities benefit from natural resources, and the promotion of genuine multi-party democracy in the region.
He had previously served as ICT Cabinet Secretary from 2022 until July 7, 2024, when President Ruto dismissed all Cabinet Secretaries except Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
