The political succession debate ahead of the 2032 and eventual post-President William Ruto transition has started taking shape, with Awendo MP Walter Owino openly urging Kenyans to begin considering Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi as a potential future presidential contender.
Speaking during the emotional send-off of Mama Risper Atieno Otieno in North Sakwa Ward, Awendo Constituency, the legislator described Mbadi as a tested leader with the temperament, discipline and integrity needed to steer the country after President Ruto’s tenure comes to an end.
The burial ceremony, attended by leaders and residents from across Migori County, turned politically charged after Owino praised Mbadi’s national leadership credentials while eulogizing the late Mama Risper as a hardworking and honest woman who raised a resilient family determined to uphold her values and legacy.
“Kenya must begin preparing for the next chapter of leadership. We have seen many leaders rise through populism, but this country now needs sober, disciplined and economically sound leadership. Hon. John Mbadi has demonstrated that capacity,” said Owino.
The MP added:
“Mbadi understands the economy, he understands governance and above all, he is honest. Those are the qualities Kenya will desperately need after President Ruto’s tenure.”
Owino further stated that Mbadi’s rise from a village background in Nyanza to one of the country’s top economic managers demonstrates resilience and political maturity.
“Not many leaders can manage the National Treasury during difficult economic moments and still remain composed. That is why I am telling Kenyans to start looking at John Mbadi seriously as a future presidential material,” he said.
The remarks are likely to ignite fresh political debate within both the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and the opposition-aligned ODM circles, especially at a time when the broad-based political arrangement between ODM and UDA continues reshaping the country’s political landscape.
The Emerging Post-Ruto Succession Matrix
Though President Ruto is serving his constitutional term with expectations of seeking re-election in 2027, political realignments regarding the post-Ruto era have quietly begun across the country.
Analysts observe that several power centers are already positioning themselves for influence beyond Ruto’s tenure, with regional kingpins seeking to consolidate political bargaining strength early enough.
In Nyanza, the growing visibility of Mbadi within government has significantly altered the region’s political calculations. Once viewed purely as an ODM technocrat and parliamentary strategist, Mbadi’s appointment to the powerful Treasury docket elevated him into the league of nationally recognized administrators.
His closeness to both ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Ruto has also fueled speculation that he could emerge as a compromise figure capable of bridging political divides between Kenya Kwanza and sections of the opposition.
The intrigues expected after Ruto’s tenure are likely to revolve around several key factors:
Nyanza’s Search for a National Heir
With Raila Odinga gradually transitioning from active frontline politics into continental statesmanship and elder status, Nyanza politicians are increasingly battling for political succession within the region.
Figures such as John Mbadi, Governors, Senators and influential MPs are expected to jostle for regional dominance, especially over who inherits Raila’s national political network and Luo Nyanza voting bloc.
Walter Owino’s public endorsement of Mbadi is therefore being interpreted as an early attempt to position the Treasury CS within that succession matrix.
ODM-UDA Political Marriage
The broad-based arrangement between ODM and UDA has created both opportunities and tensions.
While some ODM leaders view cooperation with Ruto’s administration as a strategic move for development and national unity, critics within the opposition fear the arrangement could weaken ODM’s identity ahead of the next transition.
If the alliance survives beyond 2027, insiders believe figures like Mbadi could become acceptable across both divides, particularly if the country seeks a moderate technocratic leader.
Mt Kenya Factor
Any post-Ruto succession battle will inevitably involve Mt Kenya politics. The region remains numerically decisive and politically influential.
Should divisions persist within Kenya Kwanza after Ruto’s tenure, potential alliances between sections of Mt Kenya leaders and emerging national figures from other regions may determine the next political order.
Political observers say leaders like Mbadi could attempt to market themselves as economic stabilizers capable of uniting diverse regions beyond ethnic politics.
Generational Transition
Kenya is also entering a generational political shift where younger voters are increasingly demanding issue-based leadership centered on jobs, accountability and economic recovery rather than traditional ethnic mobilization.
Mbadi’s image as an economist and policy-oriented leader could appeal to sections of urban and youthful voters frustrated by confrontational politics.
However, critics argue that transforming technocratic appeal into a formidable grassroots presidential movement would require massive political mobilization and coalition-building.
Emotional Tribute to Mama Risper
Amid the political undertones, leaders paid glowing tribute to the late Mama Risper Atieno Otieno, describing her as a principled and prayerful woman who valued discipline, education and family unity.
John Mbadi mourned the deceased as a woman whose life inspired service and humility.
“She was a mother who believed in hard work and honesty. Her family should take pride in the values she instilled in society,” Mbadi said.
Walter Owino urged the bereaved family to remain united and preserve the legacy of integrity associated with the late matriarch.
The burial ceremony ultimately evolved beyond mourning into a platform reflecting the fast-emerging political conversations shaping Kenya’s future after the Ruto era.
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