I Will Be on the Ballot For Gubernatorial Contest in 2027-Arthur Osiya

Arthur A. Osiya, EBS, Principal Administrative Secretary Executive Office of the President on Saturday declared he will contest for the gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General elections.

Speaking at Chelelemuk Catholic Parish in Angurai Division during a funds drive in aid of construction of a modern church that raised Ksh7.9million with President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet as the Chief Guest, the PAS accused Engineer Vincent Sidai of spreading falsehood.

” Eng Sidai is moving around with propaganda that I will not contest for governorship and that he has already talked to President William Ruto regarding his decision to vie for the seat in 2027,” he said.

Responding to the carcastic remarks, Osiya said Sidai is not telling people he is in which party, adding that he will be in the ballot in 2027 on UDA ticket, and nothing will stop his resolve to vie for the seat.

Osiya recalled his sentiments on December 26th, 2023, when he told members of the county assembly, members of Parliament, and the governor to do their work until 2027 when he will look at his papers before joining the race on UDA ticket.

He told his critics to stop vilifying him, former Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, and Teso South Member of Parliament Mary Emaase for their push to have Teso residents join President Ruto’s government in troops.

Ojaamong, in his speech, reiterated his resolve to support President Ruto’s administration warning the Iteso community against remaining in places they once lived (emeje), which he termed a den for snakes and devils.

Sidai, during Ang’orom Ward declaration recently, said he will be in the race for the governorship assuring his voters across the county that nothing will block him from becoming the county’s third governor in 2027.

Bukhayo North/Walatsi Member of the County Assembly, Gardy Jakaa, was the first to back Osiya’s candidature before he put the record straight today, thus putting the two Teso sons to battle each other in a seesaw encounter.

While urging Osiya to challenge Otuoma, Jakaa said Sidai chickened out in 2017 elections and was again conspicuously absent in the ring in 2022 to confirm that he is a person the Iteso community cannot bank their hopes on in 2027.

” Sidai anatosha, Osiya anatosha.(Sidai is fit for the job, Osiya is fit for the job, I will urge one of them to step down to give the region a realitistic chance to recapture the seat from the incumbent,” he noted.

President Ruto sent a donation of Ksh1m through National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichungwa, who gave his personal donation of Ksh500,000.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Professor Kindiki, Senate Majority Leader Harun Cheruiyot donated Ksh500,000 each. Busia Governor H.E Paul Otuoma donated Ksh300,000.

Other donors included
CS Ababu Namwamba and PAS Arthur Osiya (Ksh200,000), PS Susan Mang’eni (Ksh150,000),
Nairobi Assembly majority leader Peter Imwatok, Eng Vincent Sidai, MPs Mary Emaase, Alfred Mutai, Oku Kaunya, Tana River Senator Dunstan Mungatana (Ksh100,000).