Kenya: Wandayi Leads Push for Voter Registration As Allies Seek to Expand Ruto's Support in Nyanza

What the report says

President William Ruto’s allies have intensified efforts to win support in Siaya county, a long-time opposition area in western Kenya, by urging residents to register as voters ahead of the 2027 general election. The mobilization, reported by Capital FM and carried by AllAfrica, came shortly after Governor James Orengo said he intended to run for president in 2027, adding a new layer to the county’s political competition.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi led the campaign at a church thanksgiving service in Rarieda on Sunday. He told residents that larger voter rolls would strengthen Siaya’s influence in national politics and help secure Ruto’s re-election. He also warned local politicians that their support would depend on how actively they backed registration drives. Wandayi, once associated with the opposition, framed government projects in Siaya as evidence that the county should support the administration.

Several other national and local officials joined the event, including principal secretaries and lawmakers such as Nyando MP Jared Okello. They echoed the call for registration and urged the electoral commission to stay focused on preparations for the next poll. Deputy Governor William Oduol also spoke, using the occasion to criticize Orengo’s presidential ambitions.

The reported push matters because it shows the government working to build a stronger foothold in a county that has traditionally backed opposition figures, while the early positioning suggests the 2027 race is already shaping local alliances and rivalries.