With slightly over a year before the official onset of campaigns for the 2027 General Election, the battle for the Migori governorship is increasingly taking shape around one dominant theme: whether Governor Ochilo Ayacko has delivered on the promises that swept him to power in 2022.
Across the county, several aspirants seeking to unseat the first-term governor have intensified criticism of his administration, arguing that residents have yet to realize the transformation that was promised during the last election campaign. While each contender has advanced different policy priorities, they have converged on concerns over healthcare, infrastructure, youth unemployment, agriculture, revenue management and service delivery.
Among the most vocal critics is Dr. Pamela Odhiambo, currently the only woman to have publicly declared her candidature for the gubernatorial seat.
Having previously contested the office and beimg the immediateformwr Migori women representative, Dr. Odhiambo has positioned herself as a reformist leader promising to restore public confidence in county governance through accountability, improved service delivery and people-centred leadership.
Her latest criticism follows mounting public debate over conditions at Migori County Referral Hospital, where allegations of inadequate services and avoidable patient deaths have sparked outrage among residents and civil society groups.
“Thinking about where Migori was and where it is today, taking our county back would be like taking the Israelites back to Egypt—a very big NO! Our journey must always be forward, not backward. The future of Migori lies in progress, transformation, and visionary leadership, she posted on her socials.”
The remarks come against the backdrop of controversial comments reportedly made by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, who defended the situation at the referral hospital by arguing that deaths occur even in referral hospitals elsewhere and that death itself is inevitable.
Dr. Odhiambo faulted the response, saying it failed to address the underlying concerns raised by residents over the quality of healthcare.
“We do not object to the reality that death is part of life. However, the fundamental question remains: can the management of Migori Referral Hospital ensure that patients receive the essential healthcare services they deserve, delivered with dignity, professionalism, and humanity?
“We will not relent. We will leave no stone unturned in pursuing accountability and justice for those who have lost their lives, and for the families who continue to grieve under questionable circumstances at the referral hospital.
“Migori must move forward, not backward.”
“The people of Migori deserve answers, not excuses. They deserve a healthcare system that works, not one that normalizes suffering and loss.
Her sentiments echo those expressed by other gubernatorial hopefuls who have accused the current administration of failing to adequately address longstanding challenges facing the county.
Campaign Promises Under Renewed Scrutiny
Governor Ayacko assumed office in September 2022 after campaigning on a platform that promised to revitalize healthcare, improve road infrastructure, create employment opportunities for young people, strengthen agriculture, improve water access, enhance county revenue collection and foster transparent governance.
Nearly four years later, however, many residents interviewed across the county say they are yet to experience the level of transformation they anticipated.
In urban centres including Migori Town, Kehancha, Rongo, Awendo and Suna West, residents continue to cite poor road networks, intermittent water supply, youth unemployment and challenges within public health facilities as some of the pressing issues that remain unresolved.
Healthcare has particularly emerged as one of the defining issues ahead of the 2027 contest.
Recent complaints over shortages of essential drugs, delayed services, inadequate medical personnel and recurring concerns about patient care at Migori County Referral Hospital have provided political ammunition to the governor’s opponents, who argue that the county’s flagship health facilities should reflect the government’s commitment to quality service delivery.
Opposition Candidates Step Up Pressure
Beyond Dr. Odhiambo, several gubernatorial aspirants have mounted sustained criticism of the Ayacko administration, arguing that Migori has fallen short of its development potential despite receiving billions of shillings through devolution.
The challengers have questioned the pace of development projects, implementation of county budgets and fulfillment of campaign pledges, while calling for a new leadership approach anchored on accountability, efficiency and measurable outcomes.
Their criticism has resonated with sections of the electorate who believe the county has made slower progress than expected compared to neighbouring counties that have undertaken major investments in healthcare, markets, roads and industrial development.
Political observers note that the growing chorus of criticism is likely to dominate the campaign narrative over the coming months, with aspirants expected to benchmark Governor Ayacko’s record against the commitments he made while seeking office in 2022.
An Election Defined by Performance
Migori’s political landscape has historically been highly competitive, with gubernatorial elections often revolving around development, service delivery and regional balancing rather than party affiliations alone.
Analysts say the 2027 race is shaping up to become a referendum on the performance of the incumbent administration.
For Governor Ayacko, the campaign is expected to focus on defending his development record and highlighting projects undertaken during his first term.
For his challengers, including Dr. Pamela Odhiambo, the strategy appears increasingly centred on persuading voters that the county requires fresh leadership capable of accelerating development, restoring confidence in public institutions and delivering on promises that many residents believe remain unmet.
As political activities intensify, healthcare, accountability, infrastructure, youth empowerment and economic transformation are emerging as the issues most likely to determine who earns the trust of Migori voters in 2027.
Governor Ochilo Ayacko’s response to the criticisms contained in this article was not included.
However, his administration has previously maintained that it has made significant investments in healthcare, infrastructure and other sectors during its tenure.
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