Former Nairobi Governor Dr. Evans Kidero is weighing a return to the Homa Bay political arena. Insiders have confirmed that he will challenge Governor Wanga on a UDA ticket.
Politicko Daily has learnt from multiple sources familiar with the discussions that Kidero’s name has resurfaced prominently in recent weeks, amid a growing political standoff between Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo. The sources requested anonymity because they are not authorised to speak publicly on internal political plans.
For months, Homa Bay’s political class has been awash with claims of deepening bad blood between Governor Wanga and the Interior PS, with allegations that the Governor’s camp wanted the PS dismissed over claims linked to covert roles during the Kasipul by-election period. While none of the principals has issued a detailed public response to those claims, insiders aligned to the Omollo wing argue the fallout triggered a deliberate effort to politically corner Wanga by fuelling governance criticism and promoting alternative succession options early.
The early action points in those circles first took shape around FCPA Hesborn Omollo, the elder brother of the Interior PS, who for a period openly signalled interest in the governorship. FCPA Omollo held dozens of public engagements across the county in what was widely read as early groundwork, before later cooling down and presenting his activities as an accountability push rather than an active campaign.
After that shift, strategists within the same network reportedly pivoted to Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga, with allies said to include former County Assembly Speaker Julius Gaya and Kanyaluo MCA Jeff Ongoro. The goal, insiders say, was to assemble a structure capable of confronting Wanga’s entrenched political machinery and confine her to local politics amidst rising national interests.
Now, however, Politicko Daily has learnt that the same strategists are reviewing that plan and exploring Kidero as a fresh anchor. Sources close to Kidero say the former Nairobi governor had initially considered rebuilding his political base in the capital, with his eyes on another Nairobi governorship contest, while some allies urged him to go for the Westlands MP seat. But as late as December, those close to him say his engagements began shifting toward Homa Bay, including renewed outreach aimed at reactivating local networks ahead of 2027.
Kidero had previously fallen out with the Omollo camp after the UDA grassroots elections, where his team reportedly felt shortchanged. The relationship, insiders say, has been slowly thawing as the camp reassesses its best path to 2027 and beyond.
The new Kidero calculus, according to multiple sources aligned to the Omollo wing, are driven by long-term succession arithmetic. Some in the camp argue that if Magwanga wins the governorship in 2027, he would likely seek two full terms, keeping the seat until 2037. In contrast, they frame either a Kidero or a Wanga win as reopening the contest by 2032, creating room for a fresh bid within their circles especially for FCPA Omollo. In that thinking, Kidero is viewed as a possible one-term option and therefore a safer bridge compared to a younger rival who could dominate the space for a decade. Both Kidero and Wanga hail from the larger Rangwe.
Politicko Daily has further learnt that in the emerging discussions, Hesborn Omollo is being mentioned as a possible running mate in a Kidero coalition, a pairing insiders say would blend Kidero’s name recognition, financial muscles with local networks anchored by the Omollo-aligned wing and his 2022 votes headstart. The discussions remain fluid, and sources caution that key issues are still unresolved, including the final arrangements ,resource mobilisation and how the alliance would navigate Homa Bay’s historically strong party identities. FCPA Omollo had been part of Kidero's 2022 Apex team, where he had been earmarked to be the CECm for finance had Kidero won the seat.
At the same time, Magwanga’s New Year message has added a new twist. His poster design carried UDA yellow branding, a departure from his usual ODM-facing aesthetics, triggering speculation that he could be warming up to cross over. Sources say Magwanga had earlier been encouraged to consider a move to UDA as a condition for securing full support and financial backing from the Omollo-aligned wing, but he appeared hesitant.
That hesitation, coupled with shifting succession calculations, is now said to be pushing the camp to take Kidero more seriously. It also opens a new question if Magwanga ultimately defects to UDA: would he be prepared to face Kidero in party primaries, or would the new dynamics force a retreat and renegotiation of ambitions. Is it too little too late for the Homa Bay DG who has already fallen out with his boss?
With 2027 still two years away, insiders describe the scene as early coalition building, quiet pressure tactics and competitive positioning. What is already clear, however, is that the Homa Bay race is rapidly expanding beyond local rivalries, and Kidero’s possible return on a UDA ticket is emerging as one of the developments most likely to reshape the Homa Bay political chessboard.
Politicko Daily will continue tracking the alignments and will publish updates as the 2027 picture becomes clearer.