A fresh political battle is taking shape in Kisii County, where the entry of flamboyant Kitutu Chache North politician Don Bosco Gichana into the 2027 senatorial race threatens to reshape the contest and introduce a new layer of uncertainty into incumbent Richard Onyonka’s re-election calculations.
Gichana announced his bid during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kisii, turning the national event into a potential launchpad for a contest that could test political loyalties, expose rival ambitions and intensify the battle for control of the county’s Senate seat.
His entry comes as political alignments ahead of the 2027 General Election begin to take shape, with the race for the Senate increasingly emerging as a critical front in Kisii’s wider political contest.
Gichana, a businessman whose political career has included controversy, comebacks and shifting alliances, would be eeking the Senate seat on an ODM ticket.
And his bid could become a serious challenge to Onyonka if the incumbent abandons his gubernatorial ambitions and seeks re-election.
During Mashujaa Day celebrations in Igonga, Bonchari, Governor Simba Arati appeared to have a soft heart for him as introduced him to the voters and announced that he would run for the Senate on the ODM ticket.
Arati is Deputy ODM party leader and wields significant power.
The endorsement has already fuelled speculation about political realignments in Kisii, particularly amid Arati and Onyonka’s increasingly frosty relationship.
Political analyst Eric Onsongo says the animosity between Governor Arati and Onyonka is unrepairable.
"With this in mind he had to go out shopping for a senatorial team mate ahead of the main poll," Onsongo observed.
During Mashujaa Day,Gichana accused Onyonka of abandoning his legislative responsibilities.
“He abandoned his mandate as senator a long time ago. The people of Kisii deserve a senator who is present, listens to their concerns and fights for their interests,” Gichana told NationAlert during the sidelines of the Monday event.
He added that elective office should be judged by performance rather than longevity or personal alliances.
“We cannot continue treating elective positions as personal property. Leadership is about service, accountability and delivering on the promises made to the electorate,” he said.
Onyonka has not publicly settled whether he will defend his Senate seat or pursue the governorship, which he has said he intends to wrest from Arati.
Judging by ongoing meetings with former education CS Ezekiel Machogu, he is likely to defend his seat according to an insider.
Gichana’s political weight and money
Despite Arati’s public introduction of Gichana, Onsongo still doubts that the businessman has enough political muscle to alter the balance of power.
Instead he described Gichana as a political elite who has struggled to establish a firm electoral base among the Abagetutu, the clan to which both he and Onyonka belong.
“Currently, the odds are against him. Gichana is an elite who has failed to successfully click among the Abagetutu clan, and that is why he may not bring much to Arati’s table,” Onsongo said.
He also questioned Gichana’s ability to finance a competitive countywide campaign.
“He cannot entirely depend on the generosity of friends to run a major campaign. He must also have his own resources, which is a rare feat for him at the moment,” Onsongo added.
The analyst opines that Onyonka and former Kisii Governor James Ongwae retain influence among sections of the Omogetutu voting bloc, potentially complicating Gichana’s effort to dislodge established figures.
Onsongo’s assessment remains an opinion, however, and Gichana’s actual support will be tested at the ballot.
There is also no publicly established evidence that Arati is sponsoring his bid, despite speculation that the governor’s camp could benefit from a challenge to Onyonka.
Arati-Onyonka fallout
The Senate contest is unfolding amid a deepening rift between Arati and Onyonka, former allies who now occupy opposing sides of Kisii politics.
Arati has urged voters to elect a new senator, woman representative and Members of County Assembly in 2027 while retaining his administration.
He has defended his record by citing projects such as Etaya Park, transformed from a former dumpsite into a public recreational space.
His call for political change has raised questions about whether his camp intends to influence succession battles beyond the gubernatorial race.
If Onyonka pursues the governorship, the Senate seat could become a separate battleground, opening space for Gichana or other aspirants to seek the ODM nomination.
If Onyonka seeks re-election, the race would become a direct test of his standing against a candidate publicly introduced by the governor.
Onyonka’s double-track strategy
Although Onyonka has declared his intention to challenge Arati, he is reportedly exploring a broader political arrangement involving former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, 80.
The discussions could also draw in former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara, leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
The terms remain unclear, including whether the leaders have agreed on a common platform or how they would share political responsibilities.
The talks suggest that Kisii’s 2027 contest may be more complicated than individual declarations indicate. Onyonka could pursue the governorship, defend his Senate seat or support a negotiated arrangement involving his allies.
For Machogu, the discussions could provide a way to retain influence in county politics, while Magara would bring his own networks and party leadership experience.
Whether the talks produce a formal coalition will depend on the leaders’ ability to reconcile their ambitions.
A complicated history with Gichana
Gichana previously contested the Kitutu Chache South parliamentary seat against Onyonka in 2013.
He later attracted national attention after spending close to six years in Tanzanian police custody before returning to Kenya in 2018.
The two politicians subsequently announced a reconciliation after years of differences.
A fresh contest would place that reconciliation under renewed scrutiny.
Their shared clan roots could influence local calculations, although the effect of clan loyalties remains uncertain.
Voters will also consider candidates’ records, platforms, party nominations and ability to mobilise support beyond their immediate communities.
Gichana’s immediate challenge is to turn his declarations and Arati’s endorsement into a credible countywide campaign.
Ongwae’s silent calculations
Former Governor James Ongwae is another possible contender.
He governed Kisii for two terms between 2013 and 2022 but has not declared his intentions.
His experience and political networks could make him a significant factor if he enters the race. For now, he appears to be weighing his options away from the public spotlight, leaving observers to speculate whether he will seek the Senate seat or support a broader arrangement.
His decision could influence other aspirants, particularly if several established politicians compete.
The ODM nomination question
The Senate contest may ultimately hinge on ODM’s nomination process and its ability to manage competing ambitions.
Gichana’s interest, Onyonka’s gubernatorial plans and the possibility of Ongwae’s entry could turn the nomination into a contest between rival political networks.
The Senate and gubernatorial races are closely linked: decisions in one could reshape the other, especially if coalitions form to consolidate support.
If Onyonka prioritises the governorship, the Senate seat could become a struggle among aspirants seeking to succeed him. If he defends it, Gichana would face an incumbent with an established electoral base.
For now, the landscape remains fluid. Gichana has declared his intentions, Arati has introduced him as an ODM Senate aspirant, Onyonka is weighing his options and Ongwae’s next move remains uncertain.
As 2027 approaches, the contest will test whether endorsements, old rivalries and coalition negotiations can translate into electoral strength.
The central question is whether Gichana can turn his renewed ambitions into a credible challenge to Onyonka—and whether ODM can manage competing interests without deepening divisions within its ranks.
Ends
