Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo has called on leaders and residents across Nyanza to rally behind President William Ruto’s second-term bid without issuing demands or ultimatums.
Omollo said the Luo community was already benefiting from the Kenya Kwanza administration through government projects, appointments and increased development in the region, arguing that political leadership should no longer be viewed as the only pathway to development.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Kisumu on Sunday, Omollo praised President Ruto for challenging the long-held perception that the Luo community must occupy either the presidency or deputy presidency for the region to benefit from government.
He said the benefits being witnessed in Luo Nyanza demonstrated that the community could receive its fair share of national development without necessarily holding the country’s top two political positions.
Omollo also described the stakeholders’ meeting, which brought together grassroots leaders, opinion shapers and other representatives from the four counties of Luo Nyanza, as unprecedented.
“What we are doing today is unprecedented. It is something that for a very long time has never happened in this region, that we can get grassroots leaders, stakeholders and opinion shapers from all walks of life, from the four counties of Luo Nyanza, to come and share with you some of their issues, but also to listen to their leaders they have elected and, importantly, to listen to you in terms of what you have for this region as part of the great Republic we call Kenya,” Omollo said.
The PS echoed remarks by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, who, according to Omollo, had acknowledged that the community had for years believed a Luo had to be either president or deputy president for the region to benefit from government.
“Allow me to echo Senator Kajwang. He said for a very long time he thought that we only needed a Luo to be president for us to see the things we are seeing. Today in this country, you have disabused that notion that a Luo must be president or a deputy president for the people from this region to benefit from what everybody else deserves,” he said.
Omollo said President Ruto began rolling out development projects in Luo Nyanza soon after taking office and intensified development efforts following engagements with leaders from the region.
He consequently called on residents to support the President without imposing conditions, saying the administration had demonstrated its commitment to the region.
“As one of those you have given the privilege to support and serve, I do not doubt in my mind that you have the best interests of this region. You did it from day one without coercion, without any push,” he added.
The PS cited the employment of more teachers, economic stabilisation and improvements in the health sector as some of the achievements he attributed to the Ruto administration during its four years in office.
He said Kenyans were increasingly accessing essential services in public hospitals, where patients could find doctors and medicines.
Omollo also appealed to young people across the region to reject political violence and refuse to be used by politicians to cause chaos during political rallies and meetings.
He said President Ruto’s 2027 campaign would be peaceful and urged young people to distance themselves from politicians who seek to mobilise them for violence.
The PS challenged the youth to instead demand development and opportunities from political leaders, saying they should not allow themselves to be used to disrupt political gatherings.
