RUTH ODINGA REVIVES KISUMU GOVERNOR BID AFTER 2013 WITHDRAWAL

Ruth Odinga has announced her return to the Kisumu gubernatorial race, more than a decade after withdrawing from the contest ahead of the 2013 General Election.

The Kisumu Woman Representative says she will seek the governor’s seat in the 2027 General Election, reviving an ambition she abandoned in 2013.

Odinga has previously explained that her decision to withdraw from the 2013 race was influenced by concerns within her family and political circles at a time when her late brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, was pursuing the presidency.

She withdrew from the contest in January 2013 and later served as deputy governor of Kisumu County under Governor Jack Ranguma from 2013 to 2017.

Odinga has now said she is ready to make another attempt at the county’s top seat.

She has also indicated that she intends to compete for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket through the party’s nomination process rather than seeking a direct nomination.

Her planned return sets the stage for a potentially competitive race for the Kisumu governorship as political parties and aspirants begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

Odinga’s political comeback also comes after years of public service in Kisumu, including her current role as the county’s Woman Representative.