Kisumu County Women Representative Ruth Odinga has called on elected leaders to prioritise service delivery over premature political campaigns, saying leaders should only seek higher office after fulfilling their mandates.
Speaking at Obwolo Chief’s Camp in Kisumu East Sub-County during a county-wide empowerment drive, Odinga urged politicians to focus on tangible projects that improve citizens’ lives rather than fueling succession debates.
“Before anyone can seek a higher office, they must first deliver fully on the mandate they have been given. There’s too much early campaigning across the country, confusing the electorate.
Instead of empowering women and the youth, leaders are busy politicking and dishing out small money at funerals,” she said.
Her remarks come amid growing speculation over her expected 2027 bid for the Kisumu governorship, a contest that is already shaping up as one of the most competitive in the region.
Others eyeing the seat include Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili, Senator Prof. Tom Ojienda, and MPs Joshua Oron (Kisumu Central) and Aduma Owuor (Nyakach).
While she did not directly comment on her candidature, Odinga said leadership must be defined by visible service to the people.
“Political leadership must be measured by tangible service, not empty promises,” she said.
During the event, Odinga distributed 75 portable steel grocery stalls with umbrellas to women traders, 14 water tanks to farmer groups, and cheques worth over Sh500,000 to 10 community groups to strengthen local savings and income projects.
She described the rollout as a revolutionary step to improve working conditions for women traders and enhance agricultural productivity across Kisumu County.
“Instead of giving women umbrellas alone, I’ve made for them strong steel stalls so they can sell comfortably along the roadside. They will now have chairs and umbrellas for shade while doing business,” she said.
On food security, Odinga said her office has partnered with the Kenya Seed Company and other agencies to distribute certified seeds, train farmers on modern farming techniques, and carry out soil testing across the county.
“Farmers told us they needed access to quality seeds and water. We’ve responded by providing both training and water tanks through partnerships with Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) and Lake Victoria South Water Works,” she said, noting that additional distributions will take place in November.
The Woman Representative also highlighted progress in her Blue Economy programme, revealing that her office had procured boats for women groups in Sangorota, Nduru, Kadero, and Assat beaches.
Odinga further reported that nearly 2,000 youth had undergone technical training in welding, plumbing, and other skills at NITA and TVET institutions under her Human Capacity Building docket.
“I don’t give bursaries. I give scholarships for technical training. By December, we’ll be graduating over 2,000 students I’ve taken to NITA and TVET colleges since 2023,” she said.
On gender equity, she reaffirmed her commitment to tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV), announcing plans to establish six GBV centres and a safe house in Gita Kajulu, to respond to rising cases in Kisumu.
“We must protect women and girls from violence while empowering them economically,” she said.
Odinga further reiterated her allegiance to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), stressing that her focus remains on service rather than political expediency.
She concluded by urging residents to participate actively in upcoming voter registration drives, promising to work with chiefs and Huduma Centres to reach remote villages.
“I’m passionate about voter registration. We’ll be going to the villages to help those who cannot access Huduma Centres,” she said.
By Chris Mahandara
