With less than 24 months to the 2027 general elections, the Vihiga County gubernatorial contest is intensifying, attracting competitors from diverse backgrounds eager to succeed the incumbent Governor Wilber Ottichilo, who was first elected in 2017.
Close to five potential candidates have already publicly declared their interest, the latest being former Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) Chairperson, Alfred Indimuli Kahi.
A long-serving educationist, Kahi retired from the teaching service in January 2024 after 35 years.
In addition to his tenure as KESSHA National Chairperson, he served as Principal of Machakos School, Chavakali High School, and Vihiga High School.
He now steps into the political arena, seeking to take over from Governor Ottichilo in 2027.
Another contender for the county’s top seat is Senator Godfrey Osotsi, who also serves as Deputy Party Leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Elected to the Senate in 2022 on an ODM ticket, Osotsi previously served as a nominated Member of the National Assembly in 2013 through the Amani National Congress (ANC) Party and as ANC Secretary General between 2015 and 2017.
His political stature places him among the frontrunners in the gubernatorial race.
Senator Osotsi faces strong competition from his hometown neighbor, Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba.
Currently serving as the National Chairperson of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Omboko is in his second term as MP and is seen as an influential figure whose growing political profile could complicate the race.
The area Woman Representative, Beatrice Adagala, is also in the running, aiming to become Vihiga’s first female governor in 2027.
Now serving her second term, Adagala rose to prominence in 2017 after defeating current NCIC Vice-Chairperson Dorcas Kedogo.
However, she may not enjoy a clear gender advantage in this race as she faces competition from another female aspirant, Janet Ominde, who brings over two decades of senior leadership experience in the corporate world and is now venturing into politics.
With the number of registered voters expected to rise from the 310,063 recorded in the last election, the 2027 Vihiga gubernatorial race promises to be a fiercely contested battle with no easy path to victory for any of the candidates.
