Political commentator Nuru Okanga has cautioned President William Ruto against depending too heavily on votes from the Luo community in the 2027 elections.
In a recent statement, Okanga argued that the Luo community has historically not been fully supportive of ruling party candidates. He claimed that even in previous elections, the community’s voting patterns contributed to former President Raila Odinga’s defeat, and suggested that overreliance on their support could be risky for Ruto.
“Siku ya kupiga kura unapatanga Wajaluo kwa bar, sio kama Wakikuyu wanajua maana ya uongozi,” Okanga said, implying that Luo voters are unpredictable on election day. He warned that if Ruto counts on Luo votes alone, he risks losing, regardless of the campaigning he undertakes.
Okanga also dismissed any notions of vote rigging, emphasizing that Kenya’s electoral system is not comparable to neighboring countries like Uganda or Tanzania, where manipulation has historically been alleged.
The remarks have sparked debate online, with some Kenyans praising Okanga for offering a candid political perspective, while others criticized his generalizations about an entire community.
Political analysts note that his warning highlights the complexities of Kenya’s ethnic-based politics and the challenges leaders face in building broad-based coalitions ahead of national elections.
