Ojienda Seeks Elders’ Blessing in His Kisumu Gubernatorial Bid

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 5 January 2026 - Kisumu County Senator and senior counsel Prof Tom Ojienda is increasingly shaping his gubernatorial bid around grassroots outreach, positioning himself as a consensus builder keen on anchoring his ambition in community approval and elder-led legitimacy.

At the weekend, Prof Ojienda, accompanied by his campaign team, held consultative talks with the Luo Council of Elders, Nyakach Chapter, in South West Nyakach.

The meeting, chaired by Mr George Arogo and attended by elders including Abernego Akomo, Quinter Atieno Otieno, Christine Akeyo, Elly Otieno Olweny, Tom Obala, and Gome Charles, underscored the central role elders continue to play in Kisumu’s local politics.

Framed as a listening tour rather than a rally, the engagement focused on leadership, unity and development priorities for Nyakach and the wider Kisumu County. In political terms, the forum allowed Prof. Ojienda to test the waters among opinion shapers at the village level while signalling respect for traditional structures.

“The strength of leadership must come from the people at the grassroots,” Prof. Ojienda told the elders, according to participants.

“I am here to listen, to seek your counsel and to walk this journey with the community, not ahead of it.”

In seeking the elders’ nod early, the Senator appears keen to neutralise potential resistance and consolidate support in a region that often acts as a bellwether in county politics.

His message of inclusivity and unity also aligns with a broader strategy to present himself as a unifying figure capable of bridging local interests across Kisumu.

More from Kenya

Murkomen Orders Coordinated National Offensive on Alcohol and Drugs

Ethiopia's Cabinet Approves Sweeping Policy and Legislative Reforms

In a symbolic boost to his bid, the elders bestowed their blessings on Prof. Ojienda, urging him to remain steadfast and focused on transformative leadership.

They emphasised the need for a governor who understands grassroots challenges and can translate county resources into tangible development.

“I want the villagers to feel that this is their campaign,” Prof. Ojienda said, reinforcing his grassroots pitch.

“If we work together, we can deliver development that is visible in our villages and meaningful to our people.”

As the Kisumu gubernatorial race gradually takes shape, Prof Ojienda’s courtship of elders and villagers alike suggests a campaign calibrated to tradition, consultation and bottom-up mobilisation—an approach that could prove decisive in a county where local endorsement often carries as much weight as party machinery.