The chants of “Owili it is!” echoed through the dusty paths of West Seme, capturing both the rhythm of hope and the pulse of a people yearning for transformation.

In a gathering that blended emotion, expectation and conviction, Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili found himself at the heart of a grassroots movement that could redefine the political landscape of Seme Sub-County.

Parents, teachers and community leaders turned out in large numbers to welcome him and to symbolically endorse his leadership in a gesture that spoke louder than any campaign slogan.

From Aduong’ to Opande and from Ochara to Opapla, the story was the same: schools struggling without electricity, young learners studying under trees and health centres locked most days for lack of staff.

At Aduong’ Primary School, parents lamented that their children have never known a proper Early Childhood Development (ECD) classroom or the comfort of electricity. “Our children study in darkness, yet we pay taxes and hear of rural electrification every year,” said a parent, echoing a widely shared frustration.

Nearby, Opande and Ochara Primary Schools tell their own story of neglect — no sanitation facilities, no perimeter fences and teachers working under conditions that would discourage even the most passionate educators.

The plea for last-mile electrification, modern sanitation and ECD classrooms has now become not just a request, but a rallying cry — one that parents say only a practical, people-centered leader like Owili can deliver.

“We have seen leaders come and go, but none has stood with us to understand our daily struggles like Dr. Owili,” said Mary Akinyi, a parent from Opande. “He doesn’t just speak politics; he speaks development.”

Health: The soul of the community

In West Seme, the state of healthcare remains a glaring wound. The Opapla Dispensary, meant to serve an expansive area covering Koyoo, Kopedo, Kombija, Kandiga, Asembo and Kochola, remains closed most of the time — not because of lack of infrastructure, but due to absence of medical personnel.

The people’s plea was clear: employ nurses and clinicians and construct servant quarters so the facility can operate 24 hours a day. It was a message that Dr. Owili not only heard but acted upon immediately.

“I will ensure that Opapla Dispensary becomes a model health centre. We shall build a self-contained staff house and post enough medical personnel so that no mother or child suffers because the door was closed,” Owili assured amid applause.

His pledge resonated deeply across the villages as a promise rooted in empathy rather than politics.

During his tour, Dr. Owili also made a stop at Nyamgun Mixed Secondary School in Central Seme, where he held an open forum with teachers, parents and education stakeholders.

The interaction was described by participants as frank, inspiring and solution-oriented.

In a gesture that underscored his commitment to education, the Deputy Governor donated Ksh. 100,000 to support the school’s learning programs and infrastructure development.

“We must invest in education not just through words but through action,” Owili said. “Our children deserve an environment that allows them to dream and compete with the best across Kenya.”

His donation was met with jubilation from the school community, who said it would help improve academic performance and sustain ongoing programs that had stalled due to lack of funds.

Re-awakening Kombewa

Beyond education and health, residents voiced concern over the slow growth of Kombewa town, which despite its elevation to township status, has remained underdeveloped. They appealed for strategic wooing of investors to bring life to the town, spur job creation and make it a hub for trade, transport and innovation.

Dr. Owili’s response was measured yet visionary. He underscored his commitment to working with both county and national investment agencies to revive the town’s economy, promising an era of functional infrastructure and youth-driven enterprise.

In a region that has often felt overlooked, Owili’s style of leadership — patient, consultative and grounded in service delivery — has begun to shift the political tide. His engagements in Seme have been marked by humility and presence, traits that have endeared him to both the old and young.

“Owili listens,” said Peter Ouma, a youth from Koyoo. “He doesn’t send people; he comes himself, sits with us and listens. That is the leadership we want.”

Parents, teachers and opinion leaders alike have now coalesced around a simple belief: that the road to restoring dignity in Seme’s schools, clinics and economy begins with Dr. Mathew Owili’s leadership.

For Seme, the 2027 race may have already found its heartbeat in the calm, confident promise of a leader who believes that every child deserves light, every patient deserves care and every community deserves dignity.