"We are one people": Ayacko pushes Luo-Kalenjin unity as 2027 politics heat up

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Governor Ochillo Ayacko has invoked Luo-Kalenjin ancestral ties in a fresh call for political unity

- The Migori governor's remarks come amid increased cooperation with President William Ruto's administration

- Residents in the county remain divided over whether development and ancestry can influence their 2027 choices

Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko has invoked an ancient Luo-Kalenjin ancestry narrative to push for closer ties between the two communities, in a move likely to attract attention as political alliances take shape ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during a rally in Rongo, Ayacko referenced the traditional story of Sinakuru Kukulubanga of Dog-nam, which is used in Luo oral traditions to explain ancestral links among Nilotic communities.

“We are one people and one blood, our forefather known as Sinakuru Kukulubanga of Dog-nam walked down the same path. What divides us today is politics, not blood,” he told residents.

Ayacko's remarks come amid changing political dynamics in Nyanza, where the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration has intensified engagement with local leaders and communities.

The governor has increasingly worked with President William Ruto's administration on development projects in Migori, while remaining a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

He said historical ties should take precedence over political divisions.

“If our grandfathers were brothers, then we are cousins and cousins do not fight each other but hold each other together especially when we are out hunting,” he said.

Could development reshape Migori politics?

The governor's message also comes against the backdrop of growing calls among some Nyanza leaders for the region to work with the national government to secure development.

Migori has traditionally been a strong ODM base, with the party securing more than 90% of the presidential vote in the county in the 2022 General Election.

However, Ruto's administration has stepped up its presence in the region through development projects and political engagements with local leaders.

Ayacko has participated in presidential events in Migori, including the launch and inspection of development projects covering housing, markets, healthcare, water and infrastructure.

Could development influence voting patterns in Nyanza?

The shift has sparked debate among residents over whether development cooperation could influence voting patterns in 2027.

“If Sunakuru and Kukulubanga were brothers, why should we continue fighting? Let the past rest as we focus on the current goodies we are set to receive, if Ruto brings projects, let him come, we welcome,” resident Vincent Ouma said.

Trader Naomi Akinyi, however, urged politicians to deliver before seeking political support.

“Ancestry is good. We are all Kenyans. But don’t use our grandfathers to campaign. Show us the market first, show us the water first. Then we talk about 2027,” she told TUKO.co.ke.

Political analyst Holly Okwama said Ayacko was drawing on a genuine oral tradition but cautioned against turning history into a political mobilisation tool.

“The Sinakuru-Kukulubanga narrative is documented in oral traditions, using it politically is not new, what is new is using it to justify support for a sitting president from the other community, ahead of an election,” he said.

Ayacko insisted that his message was about unity rather than abandoning ODM.

“Yes our party is ODM. Let us stop looking at the party. Let us look at people. Sinakuru and Kukulubanga did not ask what party the other was in. They asked: are we family? That is the question for us today,” he said.

The remarks have placed Migori at the centre of an emerging political question, whether appeals to ancestral ties and development can weaken traditional party loyalties ahead of the 2027 elections.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Sarah Zadock (Migori freelance reporter) Sarah Zadock is a Kenyan journalist with over six years of experience. She covers current affairs, specifically politics, alongside human interest news features. Sarah has generated news content for Fourth Estate Online in the Nyanza region, a Migori-based radio station and joined TUKO.co.ke’s correspondents’ network from early 2022. Sara is based in Migori county. Email: sarazadock111@gmail.com

Harry Ivan Mboto (Current affairs editor) Harry Ivan Mboto is an accredited journalist with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and a Current Affairs and Politics Editor at TUKO.co.ke. He is a Linguistics, Media, and Communication student at Moi University and has five years of experience in digital journalism. Have a news tip, query, or feedback? Reach him at: harry.ivan@tuko.co.ke.

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.