Eliud Owalo has stepped down from his position as Deputy Chief of Staff for Delivery and Government Efficiency, citing his presidential ambitions in the 2027 General Elections.
The government official announced an immediate resignation after a public declaration of his intention to contest against incumbent President William Ruto.
“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. I have therefore resigned from the position with immediate effect,” Owalo wrote in a social media post.
As the Deputy Chief of Staff, Ruto had tasked Owalo with coordinating government delivery and ensuring efficiency across various state functions.
Owalo has contested in previous elections and served in various capacities, including his tenure as Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy.
His resignation formally clears the way for his entry into the 2027 presidential race, making him one of the earliest aspirants to publicly declare interest in the country’s top seat from within the Executive.
Earlier in the day, Owalo had made the announcement to run for the position during the 106th commemoration of the death of his grandfather, Prophet Johanna Owalo, the founder of Nomiya Church, held at the church’s headquarters in Oboch, Kisumu County.
“Come 2027, I will submit myself as a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic of Kenya,” Owalo said, adding that his track record as “a performer, a results-oriented person and a risk-taker” would guide his bid for the country’s top seat.
The declaration marks a shift for Owalo, who has worked with political heavyweights including former Prime Mionister Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi and currently President William Ruto.
He said he is moving from supporting individual leaders to championing development for the Kenyan people. Speaking after the church service, he urged residents of Nyanza to embrace “a politics of action rather than rhetoric” and outlined a development agenda aimed at transforming the region.
He highlighted the need to expand water infrastructure, including the Koru–Soin dams, to address flooding, support power generation, provide last-mile water connectivity and enhance food security.
Owalo also stressed the importance of completing the Lake Victoria Ring Road to link Busia to Migori and improve regional and cross-border trade with Uganda and Tanzania.
On economic growth, he called for the upgrading of Kisumu International Airport to handle cargo, saying the region must export fish, farm produce and other goods directly to international markets.
He proposed 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 further called for the revival of the sugar, rice and cotton sectors and for reforms in the mining sector to ensure local communities benefit from natural resources. He also advocated for genuine multi-party democracy in Nyanza, saying the 2010 Constitution guarantees political pluralism and competitive leadership.
The annual commemoration of Prophet Johanna Owalo’s death, held every January 11, provided the platform for him to link his personal legacy with his national political ambitions and his vision for development-focused leadership.
