Former Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has responded to calls to run for Siaya Governor in the 2027 election.
In an interview on Monday, August 25, Tuju responded to a caller who asked him to unseat Governor James Orengo in the next election.
Tuju said he cannot perform better than Orengo because the problems facing the county government are not political.
He explained that the challenges facing the two levels go government are multiple and structural.
This is the problem of Kenya; everything is seen in terms of political position. The problems the national and county governments are facing are multiple, and a lot of them are structural. I don’t think that I can be of more use in Siaya than the current governor because there are structural problems.
He stated that most of the resources allocated to the county go to recurrent expenditure and are hardly enough for development.
According to Tuju, the challenges facing some counties are not the governor’s fault, except in cases where leaders are looting public resources.
These are fundamental problems. Sometimes it had nothing to do with the individual occupying the offices unless they were stealing from the county’s resources.
Also Read: Orengo Makes Public Appearance, Addresses His Health Status
Tuju Cited His Base in Nairobi as Another Reason
Additionally, Tuju said he is based in Nairobi and must make an informed decision to run for Siaya Governor.
Tuju said he has to consider the fate of the more than 100 people who are employed in his private businesses before making such a decision.
He also mentioned that he has to get the opinions of his family members.
I am not inclined in any way to become a Siaya Governor because I am based in Nairobi. If I make any decision that is going to negatively impact more than 100 families, I have to be very careful about that. I also have to get the concurrence of my family.
Also Read: Raphael Tuju Resigns from Jubilee Party, Takes Stance on Ruto-Raila Handshake
Running for President
Tuju also clarified that he had never considered running for President due to the ethnic mobilization surrounding the establishment of a political party.
He admitted that his 2012 presidential bid was naïve, acknowledging that he underestimated the deep-rooted ethnic sentiments in Kenyan politics.
Tuju also said he has no plans to join the broad-based government since he is focused on personal businesses.
“I am focused on my personal things, and I don’t think there is any value I would add beyond what those who are there are giving. My support for the broad-based is based on the fact that we need a Constitutional transition when it comes to government,” he said.
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