President Ruto’s Chief of Staff Declares 2027 Presidential Bid

The Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency in the Office of the President,Eliud Owalo, has declared that he will run for the presidency in the 2027 General Election. “Come 2027, I will submit myself as a candidate for the presidency of the Republic of Kenya,” Owalo said, adding that his track record as “a performer, a results-oriented person and a risk-taker” would guide his bid for the country’s top seat. Owalo made the announcement during the 106th commemoration of the death of his grandfather, Prophet Johanna Owalo, the founder of Nomiya Church, held at the church’s headquarters in Oboch, Kisumu County. The declaration marks a shift for Owalo a former Cabinet Secretary (CS) in the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy,before being transferred to State House who has worked with political heavyweights including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ex-Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and currently President William Ruto. The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) former deputy Secretary General said he is moving from supporting individual leaders to championing development for the Kenyan people. Speaking after the church service, on January 11th, 2026, he urged residents of Nyanza to embrace “a politics of action rather than rhetoric” and outlined a development agenda aimed at transforming the region. He also advocated for genuine multi-party democracy in Nyanza, saying the 2010 Constitution guarantees political pluralism and competitive leadership. The annual commemoration of Prophet Johanna Owalo’s death, held every January 11, provided the platform for him to link his personal legacy with his national political ambitions and his vision for development-focused leadership.