GEORGE OCHILO AYACKO MBOGO
NAME | GEORGE OCHILO AYACKO MBOGO |
AGE | 57 YEARS |
GENDER | MALE |
OCCUPATION | POLITICIAN |
George Ochilo Ayacko Mbogo is a Kenyan politician and the Governor of Migori County under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Early life and education
Ochilo George Mbogo Ayacko was born on September 10, 1968, in Olare Village, located in present-day Migori County.
Raised in a humble rural setting, Ayacko grew up in a community where access to education was limited, yet he demonstrated exceptional academic promise from an early age.
He began his education at Agongo Primary School in 1976, where his academic excellence quickly became evident. After six years of primary education, he completed his Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) in 1982, emerging as one of the top performers in his district.
His strong results earned him admission to Homa Bay High School, where he pursued his Kenya Certificate of Education (KCE) between 1983 and 1986.
Ayacko’s outstanding performance in his O-Level exams saw him selected to join the prestigious Alliance High School, for his A level studies.
From 1987 to 1988, he pursued the Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE), laying a strong academic foundation for his future in law and leadership.
In 1989, Ayacko enrolled at the University of Nairobi, where he pursued a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) degree.
He graduated in 1992 and proceeded to the Kenya School of Law, where he completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Law in the same year, qualifying him to practice as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
Ayacko returned to academia years later, earning a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree at the University of Nairobi between 2008 and 2010.
His interest in highly specialized areas of law led him to pursue a Diploma in Nuclear Law at the University of Montpellier in France from 2011 to 2012, positioning him among Kenya’s few experts in this field.
Ayacko’s academic journey culminated in his pursuit of leadership studies, which saw him enroll at the United States International University–Africa (USIU-A) in Nairobi.
Between 2013 and 2016, he undertook doctoral studies and successfully earned a PhD in Leadership and Change Management.
Career
Professional career
After graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) from the University of Nairobi and completing his Postgraduate Diploma in Law at the Kenya School of Law in 1992, Ochilo Ayacko was admitted to the bar as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya the same year.
He began his professional journey in private legal practice, focusing on litigation, commercial law, and governance matters.
Ayacko’s transition into public leadership came in 1997, when he successfully contested and won the Rongo Constituency parliamentary seat, representing the area on a KANU ticket.
Although this marked the start of his political journey, his work in Parliament during his first term had strong professional undertones, as he used his legal background to contribute to debates on constitutional reforms and economic legislation.
Political career
Ochilo Ayacko’s political career began in 1997, when he successfully contested the Rongo Constituency parliamentary seat on a KANU ticket.
At only 29 years old, he was among the youngest legislators elected in that year’s General Election.
In 2002, as Kenya prepared for a historic transition from one-party dominance, Ayacko shifted allegiance to the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), which brought together various opposition parties under the leadership of Mwai Kibaki.
He was re-elected as MP for Rongo Constituency and subsequently appointed Minister for Energy in January 2003.
In this role, he championed key reforms aimed at expanding electricity access, especially in rural areas, and modernizing Kenya’s power infrastructure to meet growing demand.
In July 2004, President Kibaki reassigned Ayacko to the position of Minister for Gender, Sports, Culture, and Social Services, a docket he held until 2005.
Here, he was instrumental in launching programs to support women’s empowerment, youth development, and the promotion of Kenya’s diverse cultural heritage.
The 2005 constitutional referendum marked a turning point in Ayacko’s ministerial career.
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Following the government’s defeat in the referendum, he left the Cabinet but continued serving as MP for Rongo until 2007, when he lost his seat in that year’s General Election.
With the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, which introduced devolution, Ayacko’s focus shifted to regional governance.
Between 2010 and 2017, he served as Executive Chairman and CEO of the Nuclear Electricity Project Committee (NEPC), a role that placed him at the center of Kenya’s efforts to explore nuclear power as part of its long-term energy strategy.
Ayacko returned to elective politics in 2017, contesting the Migori gubernatorial seat on an ODM ticket but although he ran a spirited campaign, he lost to incumbent Governor Okoth Obado.
In June 2018, Migori Senator Ben Oluoch Okello passed away, prompting a by-election. Ayacko entered the race and, with the full backing of ODM leader Raila Odinga, won decisively to become Migori County Senator.
In preparation for the 2022 General Election, Ayacko set his sights once again on the gubernatorial seat.
Running on an ODM ticket, he campaigned on a platform of transparency, development, and agricultural modernization and won the election, succeeding Governor Obado to become the second Governor of Migori County.
As governor, Ayacko’s agenda has focused on expanding healthcare facilities, upgrading road networks, and promoting value addition in agriculture to boost the county’s economy.
Net worth
Details about his net worth are not publicly available.
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However, Ochilo Ayacko earns a gross salary of KSh990,000 as a county governor.
This includes:
- Basic salary: Ksh574,200
- House allowance: Ksh200,000
- Salary market adjustment: Ksh196,000
Ochilo Ayacko is also entitled to benefits and allowances such as:
- Official car (up to 3,000cc) or car allowance
- Medical cover for the governor, spouse, and up to four dependent children
- Airtime allowance: Up to Ksh20,000 per month
- Official residence, security, and travel subsistence allowances (per SRC-approved rates)
- Group life insurance valued at three times the annual pensionable earnings
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