Former ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo will today unveil
his political party, a move that formally launches his bid for the presidency
and adds a new player to the long list of those seeking to unseat President
William Ruto.
The event, according to Owalo’s presidential campaign
secretariat, will take place at the party’s headquarters at 745 Muchai Drive,
Golf Course Estate.
“The media is cordially invited to cover the unveiling of Kenya’s
newest political party. We look forward to welcoming you to cover and be part
of this historic occasion,” read part of the invite sent to newsrooms on
Tuesday.
The development marks another dramatic turn in Owalo's
political career, which has seen him move from being one of late Raila Odinga's
close campaign strategists to serving in President William Ruto's government
before breaking ranks to challenge his former boss.
Owalo resigned in January 2026 as Deputy Chief of Staff in
charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency, declaring that he was leaving
government to pursue his political ambitions.
His decision effectively ended a two-year association with
the President Ruto’s administration and set the stage for what is expected to
be an aggressive campaign to build a national political movement.
Owalo’s political journey mirrors Kenya's shifting alliances
over the last decade.
For years, Owalo was among Raila’s trusted political
operatives, playing a prominent role in the former Prime Minister's
presidential campaigns and policy formulation.
His deep understanding of opposition politics earned him
recognition as one of Raila's key strategists before the two parted ways ahead
of the 2022 elections.
In one of the most significant political defections of that
campaign, Owalo joined Ruto's Kenya Kwanza coalition, arguing that the country
required a new leadership approach focused on economic transformation rather
than traditional political loyalties.
Following Ruto's victory, Owalo was rewarded with
appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the
Digital Economy.
During his tenure, he spearheaded the government's digital
transformation agenda, expansion of digital infrastructure and efforts to
increase access to online government services.
His stay in Cabinet, however, lasted less than two years.
In 2024, President Ruto dissolved almost the entire Cabinet
following widespread Gen Z-led protests against the Finance Bill and mounting
public anger over the cost of living, governance and corruption.
Owalo was among the
Cabinet Secretaries who lost their positions as the President sought to calm
public outrage through a major government shake-up.
Unlike many of his former colleagues, Owalo quickly returned
to government after Ruto appointed him Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of
Delivery and Government Efficiency, a role tasked with monitoring
implementation of government programmes and improving service delivery from
State House.
His resignation from that office now signals a calculated
attempt to reinvent himself as an independent national leader capable of attracting
support beyond traditional political strongholds.
The unveiling of his political party comes as Kenya
experiences renewed political realignments ahead of the next elections.
The Registrar of Political Parties on Monday cleared seven
new political parties, underscoring the growing scramble by politicians to
establish vehicles for future coalition negotiations and electoral contests.
Owalo's challenge, however, will extend beyond launching a
new party.
He faces the huge task of building grassroots structures
across the country, attracting influential political allies and persuade voters
that he represents a credible alternative to both President Ruto's
administration and the established opposition.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Today's launch is expected to offer the clearest indication
yet of Owalo's political strategy, the leaders likely to join his movement and
how he intends to position himself in an increasingly crowded race for State
House.
Presidential aspirant Eliud Owalo./HANDOUT
