Former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo has formally declared that he will vie for the Siaya governor’s seat in 2027, setting up an early contest with incumbent Governor James Orengo and reshaping political alignments in the county.
Gumbo made the announcement at a rally in Siaya on Saturday during an event where ODM Deputy Party Leader Oburu Oginga officially received him back into the Orange party months after he returned from the United Democratic Movement.
The ceremony marked his public re-entry into the party he helped found.
“There is one person from Siaya who has been out of our party for a while, though he was a founder member. He is called Nicholas Gumbo, and I want to welcome him to the party,” Oburu said as he handed Gumbo the ODM party cap, symbolising his return.
Gumbo left ODM in 2022 after losing the party’s gubernatorial nominations. He later contested the Siaya governor seat on a UDM ticket, picking former police spokesperson Charles Owino as his running mate. However, he was defeated by Orengo in the August 2022 General Election.
Moments after being welcomed back, Gumbo openly declared his intention to challenge for the county’s top seat in the next election cycle.
“I want to announce today, through our party leader, come next year, God willing, I will run to be the governor of Siaya to redeem this county,” he said to cheers from supporters.
In what appeared to be a direct jab at the current governor, he added: “Orengo bye-bye,” signalling his readiness to mount a spirited challenge against the veteran politician.
Gumbo described his return to ODM as a homecoming and said he felt proud to rejoin a party he helped build from the start.
“It is good to be back home. I am a founder member of ODM, and I am so happy to be home. Thank you, party leader, thank you, deputy party leader and thank you, Madam Chair Lady,” he said.
He urged party members to stand behind Oburu as efforts continue to strengthen and unite ODM in Siaya and other regions.
“Let us campaign to unite the party,” Gumbo urged, adding that internal cohesion would be key to ODM’s success in the next election cycle.
Oburu, on his part, said the party remains open to leaders who are willing to return and work under its banner, as it seeks to consolidate its support ahead of 2027.
Gumbo’s announcement is likely to spark early political activity in Siaya, with alliances and rivalries beginning to take shape long before voters head to the ballot in 2027.
