Who Is Running for Kisii Governor in 2027?

Simba Arati (Governor, Kisii), one of the two deputy party leaders of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), is in his first term and can run again on 10 August 2027. As of 23 September 2026 he faced three reported challengers: Richard Onyonka (Senator, Kisii), former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu (Nyaribari Masaba) and former MP Omingo Magara (South Mugirango). They have discussed fielding one opposition candidate between them.

The county and the 2022 result

Kisii has nine constituencies: Bonchari, South Mugirango, Bomachoge Borabu, Bobasi, Bomachoge Chache, Nyaribari Masaba, Nyaribari Chache, Kitutu Chache North and Kitutu Chache South.

Arati was still the MP for Dagoretti North in Nairobi when he won Kisii in 2022 with 270,928 votes. Among those he beat were Machogu, who ran for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and the independents Chris Obure and Manson Nyamweya. He succeeded James Ongwae, who had served two terms. Arati's profile is in who is Simba Arati.

The challengers

Onyonka won his Senate seat on ODM in 2022. In a radio interview in July 2025 he declared, Kenyans.co.ke reported: "I am running as governor of Kisii County 2027, you can take that to the bank." He supports Fred Matiang'i for president, and People Daily reported him hinting at a united opposition alliance against Arati, in talks with Machogu, Magara and others.

He has talked about how awkward it is to run against a governor whose budget he oversees as senator. "It is a very delicate balancing act, I must behave responsibly without looking petty," he told the radio station.

Machogu sat in Ruto's first Cabinet as Education CS, and finished second to Arati in 2022. At a church fundraiser on 9 August 2026 he said, as Kahawatungu reported: "Omingo Magara is a leader I respect and we have a shared vision for Kisii." He also pledged to fight political violence and "goonism".

Magara leads the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and was at the united opposition principals' meeting on 1 September 2026. That puts the Kisii contest inside the national opposition's talks on sharing out seats.

The poll

Capital FM reported a Swiss Poll survey released on 22 April 2026: Arati 61 per cent, Machogu 17.2 per cent, Onyonka 13.4 per cent, Enock Ondari 3.4 per cent, Gideon Nyandiricha 3 per cent and undecided 2 per cent. The sample size, fieldwork dates and margin of error were not published.

The Matiang'i factor

On 22 September 2026 Fred Matiang'i, the former Interior CS, took over the leadership of the Jubilee Party. Uhuru Kenyatta, the retired President, handed it over pending ratification by the party's delegates.

Matiang'i is from Kisii, and his presidential bid gives the county's opposition aspirants a strong reason to unite. It also lets the governor's race be read nationally. On one side stands ODM's partnership with Ruto; on the other, the most prominent opposition figure Gusii has. See Jubilee and Matiang'i.

Arati's national role, and its risks

Arati has been one of the officials running ODM while party leader Oburu Oginga (Senator, Siaya) was in the UK in September 2026. In Kisumu on 14 September he demanded "50-50 sharing of government" in any 2027 deal with Ruto, the Nation reported.

Another of his remarks that month drew criticism. Citizen Digital reported that on 12 September he said youths hired to disrupt meetings were "not goons" but "people who are looking for a living". The wider problem is covered in Kenya's goon economy.

UDA has been active in Kisii too. Whether it runs its own governor candidate or stands aside for Arati hangs on the ODM-UDA talks.

What to watch

The opposition trio still has to settle on one name and on the party that candidate would run on. Parties had until 16 October 2026 to submit nomination rules under the Registrar's timetable, covered in the October party deadlines.