Siaya County Woman Representative aspirant Dr. Elizabeth Anyango Odaga has stepped up her political engagements in the county after returning to Kenya, with her eyes firmly set on the 2027 election.
Odaga, popularly known as Nyar Kathomo, jetted into the country two weeks ago and has since embarked on a series of political, community and media engagements across Siaya.
She is expected to formally unveil her campaign early next year.
In an exclusive interview with The Nyanza Review earlier today, Odaga said her desire to see a better Siaya was behind her decision to contest for the Woman Representative seat.
She said that despite more than 13 years of devolution, women, young people and other vulnerable groups in the county continue to struggle with basic needs and limited economic opportunities.
“It’s quite unfortunate that after over 13 years of devolution, our sisters and mothers are still struggling with the most basic needs,” Odaga said.
She also criticised the continued use of handouts as a political tool, saying leaders should instead focus on creating opportunities that allow women and young people to become economically independent.
“We have a great potential in our youths and we must stop dishing handouts. I am working on having youths and women who are independent and that must start from empowering them with skills and capital to run their businesses, not handouts,” she said.
Odaga said her approach to leadership would be informed by the work she has undertaken through the Change Africa Foundation, where she serves as chief executive officer.
For the past five years, the foundation has supported vulnerable families in Siaya through school-fees assistance, construction of houses and community empowerment programmes. It also supports feeding programmes in schools across the county.
The foundation currently pays school fees for hundreds of children and has constructed homes for elderly people, widows and orphaned families.
One of its major programmes has been the establishment of art centres across all six sub-counties of Siaya, providing young people with free practical skills training.
The centres offer training in areas including welding and fabrication, computer studies, plumbing, tailoring, driving, beauty therapy and motor mechanics.
The first centre, established in Akala, Gem, began training young people in August 2024. Other centres have since been established in the remaining sub-counties, with courses tailored to the skills and opportunities available in each area.
Odaga says the programme is intended to move young people away from dependence on handouts by giving them skills they can use to find employment or start their own businesses.
Her return has also seen her increase her presence in the local media, with interviews on Royal Media Services’ Ramogi TV and Radio Lake Victoria, as well as Kababa FM and The Nyanza Review.
The political contest for the Woman Representative seat is already beginning to take shape, although the incumbent, Dr. Christine Ombaka, has not publicly confirmed whether she will seek another term.
Ombaka has served as Siaya Woman Representative since 2013 and is currently in her third term.
There has been speculation that she could instead seek the Gem parliamentary seat. If she makes that decision, she would face incumbent Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, who is expected to defend his seat.
Odaga is among several names that have emerged in the race for the Woman Representative position, alongside nominated MCA Dorothy Oinga, West Gem MCA Susan Okwiry, Alwala Community Executive Director Awino Wagwau and former Siaya County CEC for Water Dr. Julie Onyango.
Her political activities come against the backdrop of growing recognition of her community work.
In November 2025, she was honoured at the Jamhuri Kenya Awards with the Youth Empowerment and Community Impact Award in recognition of her work supporting young people and vulnerable families in Siaya.
She has since received two other awards this year and is scheduled to receive the Women Empowerment and Community Transformation Award 2026 at the Kenya Impact Awards at Manzil Hotel in Nairobi next Saturday.
The latest recognition will make it her third award this year, according to her team.
Odaga’s growing political presence signals the beginning of what is likely to be a competitive race for the Siaya Woman Representative seat, with the aspirant seeking to turn her years of community work into a broader political platform ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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