Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka is set to formally launch his campaign for the Kisii gubernatorial seat on October 13, setting the stage for an increasingly competitive race ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Onyonka has selected Marani in Kitutu Chache North as the venue for the launch, where he is expected to rally his supporters and outline his agenda for the county as he seeks to transition from the Senate to the governor’s office.
The senator has already declared his intention to contest for the seat.
“I am running as governor of Kisii County 2027, you can take that to the bank,” Onyonka told KahawaTungu on Thursday.
Onyonka has also sought to draw a distinction between his gubernatorial ambitions and his current constitutional role as a senator, saying he will continue to discharge his oversight responsibilities.
“It is a very delicate balancing act. I must behave responsibly without looking petty, by overseeing the county because I still have two years to do that,” he said.
From Kitutu Chache to the Senate
Onyonka has a political career spanning Parliament and government.
He served as the Kitutu Chache MP from 2015 to 2022 and previously served as an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2008 and 2014. Before entering politics, he worked in the private sector.
His parliamentary profile lists a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Nairobi and a master’s degree in International Relations and Marketing from the University of North Carolina in the United States.
He was elected Kisii Senator in 2022 on an ODM ticket.
His political relationship with Governor Simba Arati, however, has changed significantly since the two came to power in 2022.
The two were previously political allies, but their relationship deteriorated after Arati became governor. By December 2022, Onyonka had publicly announced that he was cutting political ties with the governor.
“We are not gods,” Onyonka said at the time, urging elected leaders to respect the electorate that put them in office.
Since then, the senator has stepped up scrutiny of the county administration through his Senate oversight role.
In March 2024, he questioned the utilisation of county development funds and called on the governor to account for challenges affecting the implementation of county projects.
“What is in there is public money that should be used to benefit the Kisii people?” he asked.
Building an Alternative Political Camp
Onyonka has increasingly presented himself as an alternative political voice in Kisii, while seeking to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 contest.
In 2026, he also floated the possibility of opposition gubernatorial aspirants settling on a single candidate to challenge Arati.
Among the politicians he said he was engaging were former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara and Dr Enock Ondari.
The October 13 launch at Marani is therefore expected to provide a clearer picture of Onyonka’s political strategy, including the alliances he intends to build and the issues likely to form the centre of his campaign.
The contest is expected to feature debates over the county government’s development record, resource allocation, political alliances and competing visions for Kisii.
With Onyonka now moving from declaring his intention to launching an organised campaign, the 2027 gubernatorial race in Kisii is set to attract heightened political attention.
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