President William Ruto appears to have quietly set his sights on the 2027 general election, traversing the country to launch projects, issue directives and consolidate political goodwill.
At nearly every stop, development pledges follow appeals from local leaders, with the Head of State keen to demonstrate delivery while rallying support. But even as he navigates an increasingly competitive political landscape, particularly with opposition from his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, the president has little time to champion fellow politicians facing their own electoral battles.
Across the country, incumbents brace for stiff contests, each left to fend for themselves under the unspoken creed: every man for himself, God for us all.
But in Homa Bay, the script appears to shift.
Here, the President’s message carries a distinct undertone. Rather than merely seeking his own re-election, his words have repeatedly leaned in favour of Governor Gladys Wanga, who faces a formidable challenge from her former deputy, Oyugi Magwanga, ahead of the 2027 polls.
It is not the first time Dr Ruto has singled out the county chief for praise. On previous visits, he lauded her leadership in similar terms, commendations that now seem both political and strategic.
Governor Wanga has publicly declared her intention to defend her seat. Yet, her name has also been floated as a potential running mate for President Ruto in 2027, adding intrigue to the President’s consistent endorsement of her leadership.
President William Ruto is received by officials from the Ministry of Energy and leaders from Homa Bay when he commissioned the Ndhiwa substation in Homa Bay County on March 23,2026.
Photo credit: George Odiwuor| Nation Media Group
During an interdenominational prayer service at Agoro Sare High School in Kasipul on Sunday, speaker after speaker extolled the governor, portraying her as a leader who invariably gets results.
Dr Ruto himself acknowledged the difficulty of turning down her requests, even as a steady stream of state-backed projects in Nyanza continues to draw regional leaders closer to his political orbit.
“It is difficult to say no to Gladys because she asks with utmost humility, knowing very well that it is not her own provisions that matter, but the interests of the people who elected her. I work with many leaders, but it is rare to find a leader who puts the interests of their people above their own, as she does,” he said.
The President attributed the concentration of national government projects in Homa Bay to her approach.
“That is why in Homa Bay we have built a pier, an airport, a stadium, among others. That is why I am here today - to assure you that in every plan we make, Homa Bay County will be among the beneficiaries,” he said.
During that development tour, Governor Wanga was seen flying in the same helicopter as President Ruto, further underscoring her close working relationship with the head of state.
Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga addresses a rally at Kamukunji grounds in Kibera, Nairobi, on January 14, 2026.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
The presidential helicopter is typically a protected State asset, reserved for the Head of State and a select few. Former Prime Minister, the late Raila Odinga, was among the handful of leaders who are on record having flown aboard it.
Ms Wanga now appears to have joined this exclusive circle, having boarded the aircraft alongside Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.
Yet beneath the praise, political calculations abound.
Observers suggest that elevating Ms Wanga’s gubernatorial prospects could effectively sideline her from consideration as a running mate, particularly after ODM signalled its desire to secure the deputy presidency in a future Ruto administration. A decisive re-election bid would tether her to county leadership, reshaping the equation for 2027.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi appeared to urge residents to secure the governor a second term.
“Let us all ensure the governor serves for two terms,” he said.
Some analysts interpret this as a longer game, one that seeks to level the political field ahead of the 2032 presidential race. A stint as deputy president, they argue, could significantly bolster Ms Wanga’s national ambitions in the post-Ruto era. Mr Mbadi himself hinted at such a future.
“Nyanza has never produced a president. After your term ends, I see the region having a president,” he said.
At the same gathering, the absence of recognition for Mr Magwanga, despite his prominent seating in the front row, did not go unnoticed. In contrast, Governor Wanga acknowledged her Roads Executive, Danish Onyango, recently nominated as deputy governor, who was also given an opportunity to address the gathering.
The political undercurrents are unmistakable. What was once an alliance between Ms Wanga and Mr Magwanga has since unravelled into open rivalry. The two, once united in their successful 2022 bid, now stand as principal adversaries in a contest marked by rising tensions and intensifying rhetoric.
Both camps are already mobilising resources and structures, more than a year before the next election cycle formally begins. Campaign machinery is quietly taking shape, public address systems assembled, vehicles branded and grassroots networks activated.
Public exchanges between the two have grown increasingly personal. Ms Wanga has dismissed her former deputy as dishonest, at one point likening his demeanour to that of a baboon, serious and unsmiling. Mr Magwanga, in turn, has shrugged off the jibe, remarking that he cannot change his appearance and asserting that his wife is more beautiful than the governor.
As political lines harden and ambitions crystallise, Homa Bay emerges not merely as a battleground for local supremacy, but as a theatre where national strategies, personal rivalries and the long shadow of 2027 - and beyond - converge.
