The race for Siaya’s top seat has taken a dramatic new turn after Engineer Nicholas Odero Gumbo formally rejoined the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), declaring his political “homecoming” at the iconic Ahindi Gardens.
Gumbo’s return instantly injected fresh momentum into early succession talk ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial contest — but emerging signals within ODM circles suggest Deputy Governor William Oduol may still be the aspirant many insiders quietly view as the frontrunner.
Gumbo remains one of Siaya’s most formidable political figures. The former Rarieda MP and past Public Accounts Committee chair has repeatedly come within striking distance of the county’s top job.
In 2017, he narrowly lost to then-governor Cornell Rasanga Amoth on an independent ticket.
In 2022, he mounted a strong challenge against Governor James Orengo while running under the United Democratic Movement (UDM) banner.
Among supporters, Gumbo’s grassroots appeal — captured in the popular nickname “Chuor Adhiambo” — has long made him a potent electoral force capable of cutting across class and regional lines.
His decision to return to ODM is widely interpreted as a strategic recalibration aimed at capturing the party ticket that has historically dominated Siaya politics.
While Gumbo’s homecoming grabbed headlines, attention within ODM is increasingly settling on Deputy Governor William Oduol, whose technocratic profile and countywide networks continue to gain traction.
Party insiders and local observers point to several factors working in Oduol’s favour:
Incumbency proximity: As deputy governor, he already operates within the county executive ecosystem.
Technocratic branding: Oduol has cultivated an image of policy depth and administrative focus.
ODM goodwill: Sections of the party establishment are said to view him as a stabilizing figure.
Though the field remains fluid, early political chatter in Siaya increasingly frames the emerging contest as one where Oduol could be the aspirant others must measure themselves against.
Should Governor Orengo opt not to seek another term — a question that still lingers — ODM could face one of its most competitive primaries in the county’s history.
Names circulating in early calculations include:
Nicholas Gumbo
William Oduol
David Ochieng of MDG
George Okode, the Siaya Assembly Speaker
The political arithmetic is further complicated by regional balancing dynamics, particularly with both Gumbo and Okode hailing from Rarieda.
Gumbo’s return comes at a delicate moment for ODM in its Luo Nyanza stronghold. The party remains dominant in Siaya, but undercurrents of factional competition are becoming more visible as 2027 approaches.
Analysts say ODM’s biggest task may not be defeating external rivals but managing its own internal ambitions.
A bruising primary could energize the party — or fracture it.
For Gumbo, the ODM reunion offers perhaps his clearest pathway yet to the governorship he has pursued for years.
For Oduol, the coming months present an opportunity to convert quiet institutional strength into broad political momentum.
And for Siaya voters, the message is unmistakable: the 2027 governor race has begun far earlier — and promises to be far more competitive — than many expected.
