Kisumu County Deputy Governor Mathew Owili has officially launched a massive countywide National ID and Voter Registration Campaign in Seme, setting in motion an ambitious grassroots mobilization drive aimed at registering at least one million new voters across the county ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The campaign, spearheaded by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), seeks to radically expand the party’s voter base while strengthening its political leverage within the country’s evolving, broad-based political arrangements.
The specialized mobilization exercise targets the four traditionally vote-rich counties comprising the larger Luo Nyanza region.
Launching the exercise in Kombewa, Dr Owili challenged all eligible residents to immediately obtain their National Identity Cards and register as voters, describing the exercise as both a critical civic duty and a strategic political investment in Kisumu’s future.
“Every eligible resident must take absolute advantage of this decentralized opportunity,” Dr Owili stated adding that, “A National ID opens the door to voter registration, and every single registered voter strengthens our collective voice in determining the developmental future of our county and the nation.”
The launch brought together Seme lawmaker Dr Nyikal, Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) Seth Okumu, George Abaja, Mildred Ajumbo, and Millicent Omuya.
Also present were officials from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), representatives from the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), ODM sub-county mobilizers, and various grassroots party officials.
Dr Owili noted that the campaign goes far beyond merely increasing voter statistics, emphasizing that it is explicitly designed to reinforce Kisumu’s political bargaining power at the national table.
According to the Deputy county boss, an expanded voter register will ensure ODM retains absolute dominance in its traditional stronghold while providing greater leverage within national broad-based coalitions.
He urged residents across all sub-counties to embrace the exercise, noting that higher numbers directly impact future formulas for national resource allocation and development funding.
Gubernatorial bid
The Deputy county chief also used the platform to advance his own local political interests, formally appealing to residents to back his upcoming gubernatorial bid to succeed Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o.
Dr Owili argued that an overwhelming electoral mandate gives local leadership the institutional legitimacy required to effectively engage the national government and international development partners when lobbying for major regional projects.
The launch in Seme marks the beginning of an aggressive countywide campaign that will be systematically rolled out across all sub-counties.
ODM mobilizers are expected to intensify door-to-door sensitization, civic education, and localized registration drives in pursuit of the one-million-voter benchmark.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the campaign signals the start of a highly coordinated political mobilization strategy designed to expand Nyanza’s electoral influence on the national stage.
