President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance has its eyes firmly in Azimio leader Raila Odinga's Nyanza political turf.
The ruling party appears keen to penetrate Nyanza on a two-pronged approaches through aggressive membership recruitment drives and launching of development projects in Raila's backyard.
The UDA forays in the region, if successful, will deal a devastating political blow to the Opposition chief who has had a firm grip of the region's politics for decades after the death of his father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga - the doyen of Opposition politics.
Already, UDA stalwarts from the four Luo Nyanza counties of Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori have started mobilisation campaigns and membership recruitment drives to ensure Ruto's party has a heavy presence and its strength felt at the grassroots.
This calculation to weaken ODM, the most dominant party in the region, is already taking shape in Homabay, Kisumu Migori and Siaya counties.
Homa Bay is the most populous of the four counties and it is here that Raila commands a strong support base than any of the other Nyanza counties.
In the past, Raila has used Homa Bay as a launching pad when making important political statements and decisions.
In Homa Bay, UDA has in its camp prominent sons such as former Nairobi Governor and trade CAS Evans Kidero, politician Odoyo Owidi and former MP Martin Ongindo who are spearheading Ruto's agenda.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo, a schemer and a lethal strategist who prefer operating in the background, is also from Homa Bay County. The PS seems to be the President's point man when it comes to pushing the development agenda in Nyanza.
While the politicians led by Kidero are focusing on invigorating the party through the recruitment drive, the PS is mandated to steer the development angle on behalf of the President. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to make Ruto a darling of the Luo community ahead of the next general election.
Kidero, Owidi and former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo target to register more than 300,000 people in the county to join UDA in four months.
According to IEBC records ahead of 2022 elections, Homa Bay had a total of 551,000 registered voters.
Three weeks ago, the trio launched both digital and manual membership listing drive in the area.
Since the launch, the UDA brigades have been secretly meeting leaders including MCAs and ODM officials.
Two constituency ODM officials Ogina Nyabola (Ndhiwa) and Zachary Muga (Kabondo Kasipul) have already decamped to UDA.
In Siaya, Raila's rural county, UDA launched a ten-day recruitment drive that targets to register 300,000 members, local party officials in the county said.
The ongoing recruitment drive targets all registered polling stations in the county.
Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo is leading the UDA onslaught in Raila's county. The CS is the senior-most UDA politician from Raila's backyard.
He has been holding numerous meetings with various groups from Luo Nyanza including a splinter group of Luo elders to drive the Ruto agenda. This faction is chaired by Nyandiko On'gadi.
A part from the elders, Owalo has hosted various interest groups from Luo Nyanza including the leadership of teachers trade unions, farmers, religious leaders and other groups of professionals to gain new political ground for Ruto in the region.
Last Tuesday, the CS presided over Gor Mahia fundraiser at Serena Hotel where he dolled-out goodies for the football team that has huge support from Luo Nyanza.
Owalo has also rallied rebel MPs from Nyanza to the UDA fold. He has also brought to Ruto's camp former elected leaders from Luo Nyanza most of whom have been rewarded with State appointments.
Among those in this team include Canada-based barrister Miguna Miguna who he hosted last Monday at his Nairobi office.
In Siaya, Owalo is teaming up with former Rarieda MP and roads CAS Nicholas Gumbo to drive Ruto's political agenda. Former police spokesman Charles Owino is also in the UDA camp.
Although they were not elected on UDA, MPs David Ochieng ( Ugenya) and Elisha Odhiambo (Gem) have been leaning towards Ruto's administration and have publicly declared support for the President.
Raila's MP in the village, Gideon Ochanda, who represents Bondo constituency in Parliament is also warming up to the Kenya Kwanza government and has vowed to work closely with Ruto .
To warm his way into the hearts of the people of Nyanza, three months ago, President Ruto toured Homa Bay County where he commissioned a multi-million modern municipal market at Homa Bay town.
Ruto also launched the first phase of the affordable housing project in the county that will see 5000 units built.
The President also announced plans for various development projects by his administration for the area .
Among them is a fish market which Ruto said will be constructed in Homa Bay. The market that would include fish processing unit will be commissioned in December.
Infrastructure, agriculture and water projects also received a boost as the President announced that his government will team up with the county government and the local leaders to ensure key but dilapidated roads are repaired and the water problem fixed.
He also promised to ensure new piers are built and pledged to revamp all stalled government projects in the area.
While in Kisumu during the two-day visit, the President toured Kisumu Port and other infrastructure development projects in Kisumu before proceeding to Siaya County.
During the January tour of Luo Nyanza, Ruto launched the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology Blue Economy Research hub.
And in March, he was again in Raila's backyard, visiting Nyamira, Kisii and Migori counties during a three-day tour of South Nyanza.
Ruto also attended Uriri MP Mark Nyamita's homecoming.
In Migori, he commissioned the Senta-Nyamtiro-Isebania road in Kuria East and Nyabohanse - Kumumwamu road in Kuria West, Migori County.
During the visit Ruto said, "We are expanding our road network to stimulate rapid economic growth in the country by opening up our rural areas to opportunities."
Interior PS Raymond Omollo said the President means well for the people of Nyanza, adding that Kenya Kwanza administration will not marginalise any part of the country.
"His focus is to ensure the region gets its fair share of development projects. He loves the people of Nyanza," Omollo said .
Ruto's first visit outside Nairobi shortly after being sworn into office was a church service in Homa Bay at the AIC church last year.
His next visit to Luo land again began in Homa Bay, then Kisumu and Siaya. Last month he was in Migori.
The President's team in the region has met Luo professionals both in public and private sector, Luo council of elders, Suba council of elders, Political and opinion leaders including elected and former MPs and MCA’s to help expand his support base.