As per reports, former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo has officially declared his bid for the 2027 gubernatorial race and he isn’t coming back empty-handed.
The most telling detail of Gumbo’s return isn't just the announcement itself, but the homecoming welcome he received from ODM party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga.
In the world of Luo Nyanza politics, a public blessing from the Odinga family patriarch is more than just a polite gesture, it is a powerful signal of where the party’s heart and perhaps its machinery is leaning While Gumbo is being ushered back into the ODM fold with open arms, Governor Orengo seems to be drifting toward a different orbit.
Orengo has recently made headlines by declaring that he would henceforth take political direction on party matters from embattled ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
By aligning himself so closely with the younger, more radical wing of the party including the likes of Sifuna, Babu Owino, and Godfrey Osotsi, Orengo is walking a dangerous tightrope.
While these rebel leaders command significant influence among the youth, their friction with the traditional party hierarchy appears to be creating a vacuum that Gumbo is more than happy to fill.
The stage is now set for a fierce contest.
Gumbo, who has previously run for the seat with significant grassroots support, now has the added advantage of institutional legitimacy within ODM.
For Orengo, the challenge is two now managing the rebel tag. His loyalty to the Sifuna-led faction may isolate him from the old guard.
And secondly, competing against a candidate who has the symbolic nod from the ODM party leader is an uphill battle in Siaya.