The gloves are now off, and Onyonka is reportedly gearing up to challenge Arati in the highly anticipated 2027 gubernatorial race. But there’s more to this brewing storm: political insiders reveal that Onyonka may abandon ODM entirely, leaving the party behind to join forces with another faction in a bid to dethrone Arati. This would mark a dramatic shift in the region’s political landscape
Kisii County’s political landscape is set to experience a massive shake-up as a bitter rivalry between Governor Simba Arati and Senator Richard Onyonka escalates. The once-united political duo is now on the brink of a fierce feud that could change the course of Kisii politics forever.
Sources close to the situation confirm that Onyonka has dramatically severed ties with Arati, calling the 2022 election of Arati a “huge political mistake” for the Kisii community, a mistake he vows not to repeat in the upcoming race. The embittered senator has gone further, accusing Arati of betrayal and failure to deliver on his promises, alleging corrupt practices and unethical political manoeuvring within the governor’s office.
The gloves are now off, and Onyonka is reportedly gearing up to challenge Arati in the highly anticipated 2027 gubernatorial race. But there’s more to this brewing storm: political insiders reveal that Onyonka may abandon ODM entirely, leaving the party behind to join forces with another faction in a bid to dethrone Arati. This would mark a dramatic shift in the region’s political landscape, as Onyonka weighs his options for the future.
The tensions run deep, with accusations that Arati has turned his back on his political allies, particularly those from the influential Abagetutu clan, who were crucial in securing his 2022 win. Onyonka, once Arati’s biggest supporter and backer during the election, now feels betrayed by what he describes as Arati’s unilateral decisions and failure to consult key political figures in the county. The senator’s dissatisfaction is rooted in what he believes is Arati’s disregard for his promises—promises that included a confidential deal outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), where Arati allegedly agreed to let Onyonka appoint a significant portion of the county’s cabinet and senior roles upon assuming office.
But that promise now seems broken. Sources close to Onyonka suggest that the senator is contemplating jumping ship from ODM, frustrated by Arati’s iron grip on the party’s leadership in Kisii, which has hindered his ambitions for the governorship. For Onyonka, the writing is on the wall: his only path to challenging Arati in 2027 is to break away from ODM, a party that now seems fully under Arati’s control.
Onyonka has been openly rebelling against ODM’s official line on various issues, with many viewing him as a political dissenter. His criticism of Raila Odinga, ODM’s leader, has further distanced him from the party, making his departure seem almost inevitable. Should Onyonka choose to leave ODM for a rival political outfit, it would send shockwaves through both Kisii and the larger ODM establishment, posing a significant threat to Raila Odinga’s influence in the region.
For Arati, the threat of a serious challenge from his former ally is a major headache. His political dominance within ODM makes it nearly impossible for Onyonka to secure a fair nomination for the governorship under the party. If Onyonka follows through on his plan to defect, Arati could face an intense showdown in 2027, with the possibility of a bruising election battle that could divide the county’s political loyalties like never before.
As Kisii County braces for what could be the most explosive political contest in recent history, all eyes will be on Onyonka’s next move. Will he stick with ODM, or will he make the dramatic leap to challenge Arati head-on in 2027? And more importantly, will the senator’s defection spark a larger wave of rebellion within ODM, further fracturing the party’s grip on the region?
