A collaged photo file of former Alego Usonga MP Edwin Yinda ( extreme left) Energy and Petroleum CS Opiyo Wandayi (top) and immediate former ODM party leader Raila alongside Kenya Sugar Board chairman Engineer Nicolas Gumbo (right)
Siaya county is one of the counties in the former Nyanza Province in western Kenya. It borders Busia County to the north, Kakamega County and Vihiga County to the northeast and Kisumu County to the southeast. With a population of 993,183 according to the 2019 census, the county which comprises six sub counties is headquartered in Alego Usonga, Siaya town.
The county boasts of gallant statesmen and great scholars.
In this article, we are going to highlight some of the five richest politicians from the county.
1. Edwin Yinda
Otherwise known as Wuod Lowo, the former Alego Usonga MP is arguably one of the richest businessmen in Kenya and probably the richest politician in Siaya.
Yinda served as the member of parliament for Alego Usonga from 2007- 2013 after outshining the then incumbent Sammy Weya.
He is touted as one of the richest people in Nyanza who for the past thirty years have been running a vast business empire in Mombasa.
The former lawmaker is the executive chairman of Supply Linkages Limited which specializes in lifting machinery and equipment, including forklifts and cranes.
The company has been recognized for its exemplary performance in service and product delivery both in Kenya and other parts of Africa.
Ochieng who is an old boy of Alliance high school also owns Venus Tea Brokers company and the historic Hardrock Cafe.
He also owns a ship repair company, a construction firm with headquarters in Mombasa.
The seasoned businessman has also invested in real estate with residential houses in Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu. He owns palatial homes in Nyali and Karen. Yinda also owns two commercial cargo flights, a private chopper that has since been commercialized, over twenty hectares of land in Nyali among other properties
Together with his wife Lucy Yinda, they run charitable work in Coast through the Wema centre organization , that centers is igniting hope for the street children. At least 10,000 street children have been rebalitated at the facility since it’s inception in 1993.
Yinda’s net worth is approximated at Ksh. 50 billion and is the richest politician from Siaya county.
2. Raila Odinga
The former Prime Minister is the son of Kenya’s first Vice president Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
He hails from Nyamira, Bondo sub county, Siaya county. Jakom (chairman) as he is widely known has over the past three decades enjoyed massive support from his Siaya backyard and many parts of Kenya in the political space.
He served as a member of Parliament for Kibra constituency (now Langata and Kibra constituencies) minister for roads, Prime Minister, opposition leader for over two decades and Africa high commission for infrastructure.
While many believe he is the richest luo politician and by large extent, among the richest in Kenya, Raila has kept most of his properties secret. In most cases using proxies while also using the family tag.
The immediate former Orange Democratic Movement party leader owns a series of properties which places him at the second most rich politician in Siaya.
Odinga’s investment spreads across hospitality, transport and energy. He owns a total of 5 palatial homes across the country, most of which are in the most expensive neighborhoods. In Mombasa, Odinga owns a luxurious home in Nyali. This is the most recent of his luxury homes. In 2018, just after its completion, he held a housewarming party that was attended by high profile politicians including the then Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and former president Uhuru Kenyatta. The market value of this magnificent home has not been made public but a Nairobi based valuer Samson Mwangi says it can cost slightly above Ksh. 200 milion
He also owns a palatial home in Kerarapon, Karen. This Nairobi mansion is where Mr. Odinga mostly operates from. Raila’s third home is in Kisumu, sitting on his late father’s Riat land, facing Kisumu International Airport. The 10-bedroom mansion which features a helipad and conference halls has been widely rumored to have cost the former Prime Minister Ksh. 1 billion, claims that Mr. Odinga publicly denied.
In March 2014, Odinga through his spokesman Denis Onyango said that the building which was under construction at the time was to be the headquarters of the Raila Odinga foundation and its twin institution, Green Outreach Foundation Africa which were yet to be formally unveiled.
“Apart from hosting the Raila Odinga Foundation and Green Outreach, the building coming up in Kisumu will also provide conference, media, recreational and office facilities for hire and rental by the public on completion,” Onyango said.
However, the mansion has been Raila’s residence after its completion. Odinga has held high profile meetings and is more frequent at the Riat home whenever he is in his Nyanza backyard.
Raila also owns a palatial home in Nairobi’s elite neighborhood Runda and Opoda ranch in Siaya where his ancestral home sits.
Odinga has also invested heavily in the hospitality sector. He owns the Royal City Hotel in Kisumu and is currently developing a Ksh 500 million luxury beach resort in Malindi. The Kisumu hotel, located on his ancestral land, features 49 rooms and conference facilities. The Malindi resort, managed by Kango Enterprises where Mr. Odinga is the director, will include a presidential suite, luxury villas, and spa facilities. The project aims to tap into the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) market.
Raila has also invested in construction and currently owns the Chaju Builders Limited which has won several tenders including the construction of Kenyatta stadium in Kisumu. According to public information, the company is owned by Mr. Cornel Osano who interestingly has been linked to ownership of Odinga’s Royal Swiss hotel.
An insider who spoke to this publisher said that Mr. Osano is Raila’s long time proxy. Another proxy disclosed by the insider is Andiwo Mwai, a Mombasa based businessman – cum – politician.
Andiwo, according to the insider, is Raila trustee who owns by proxy, most of Raila’s assets including proxy offshore bank accounts.
Mr. Odinga investments in energy companies include East Africa Spectre Ltd, a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinder Manufacturer and BE Energy which is owned by Raila Odinga’s last born son Raila Odinga Junior.
Odinga also owns a private chopper and a fleet of high – end cars.
Raila’s net worth is approximated at Ksh. 22 billion though he has always insisted that his net worth is Ksh. 2 billion.
3. Nicolas Gumbo
At position three is the former Rarieda MP Nicolas Gumbo Wajonya. He is the managing director at Feradon Associates Ltd, a consulting engineering firm with offices in Nairobi and Kampala.
The old boy of Cardinal Otunga high school (Mosocho) is one of the most sought after electrical engineers in the country. He is reported to have been one of the lead electrical consultant engineers for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Senate building in Nairobi.
Wajonya as he is widely known has investments that spread in real estates and constructions.
He owns an array of apartments in Nairobi and Kampala, Uganda.
The Kenya Sugar Board chairman has also invested in shares in different companies including Safaricom and Kenya Power.
Gumbo, a two time runner for Siaya county governor, has been running charity work through his Rarieda Education Support Action Group (RESA) which has supported bright but needy students across the country. He has also been building houses for widows and less fortunate members of the public, especially in Rarieda and Siaya county at large.
In 2017, he was reported to have spent close to Ksh. 500 million campaigning for the Siaya county governor and almost Ksh. 450 million in 2022 Siaya county gubernatorial campaigns. Part of the funds included donations from friends and funders of his campaign. Though largely, a great percentage of the funds were from him.
Gumbo also owns a posh home in Karen, just a few meters from the official residence of the deputy president along Karen road. He moved into the new home from his first home along Kasuku road in lower Karen. The building that currently houses Feradon Associates Nairobi offices.
Though it is almost impossible to know how much is his net worth, from a few sampled investments, Gumbo is approximately Ksh. 1.5 billion rich.
4. Rafael Tuju
Legendary broadcaster and former Member of Parliament for Rarieda Constituency is arguably one of Kenya’s think-tank politicians just like his successor Engineer Nicolas Gumbo.
Prior to joining politics, Tuju was one of the lead news anchors at Kenya Television Network (KTN) and is widely remembered for his charisma and eloquence.
He joined active politics and was elected Member of Parliament for Rarieda in 2002, succeeding the late George Odeny.
While Tuju has recently been dealt a blow following a ruling by Supreme court that gave East African Development Bank ago ahead to auction his multimilion propertiesin Karen , the former minister is still in the list of wealthiest politicians from Siaya.
Tuju has investments ranging from real estate, land and hospitality.
He owns a number of apartments in Nairobi Langata, just a few kilometers from Wilson airport. The estate is largely managed by his daughter.
The former secretary general of Jubilee party also owns a posh home in Karen, not far from Raila Odinga’s Kerarapon home.
His prime property which is valued at Ksh. 3.5 billion was put on auction by Africa Development Bank last year following a long legal tussle over a defaulted Ksh. 4.5 billion loan
Entim Sidai Wellness Sanctuary and Dari Coffee and Garden restaurant which sit on a 20.2 acres piece of land in the leafy suburbs – Karen is part of larger investments by the former lawmaker.
The properties were to go under the hammer on October 1, but Tuju hurriedly moved to court under a certificate of urgency to stop the sale. Tuju claimed that the East African Development Bank, which is claiming the billions, unlawfully issued notifications of sale.
He said the sale was unconstitutional as it sought to deprive him of his properties. But his application was opposed by the bank, saying the Supreme Court allowed them to proceed with the recovery proceedings.
After losing the multibilion property in Karen, Tuju networth rates at approximately Ksh. 1.4 billion
5. Opiyo Wandayi 
Immediate former Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi is yet another man with large investments. The Energy and Petroleum CS has investments in real estates, farming and land.
Appearing before the committee on Appointments for vetting last year, Wandayi said that he owns residential houses in Suba East, Migori and Kangundo road in Nairobi.
Further, the lawmaker disclosed that he has farms in Narok and Siaya with plots in Kitengela, Kajiado county.
He also owns a palatial home in Karen and another one in Ugunja.
Wandayi’s net worth currently stands at Ksh.530 million.
“My net worth is about Ksh.530 million. It is largely made of cash, real estate developments, farms in Siaya and Narok and plots in Kitengela, Migori, Suna East,” he said.
Other rich politicians from Siaya include former Siaya county governor Cornel Amoth Rasanga, Siaya county governor James Orengo, former national police spokesman Charles Wahongo, Engineer Carrey Orege, Siaya county deputy governor William Oduol Denge and Ugenya MP David Ochieng.
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