DNK International By Our Reporter,Busia
Paul Nyongesa Otuoma’s political story is one of patience, calculated risk and survival in the unforgiving terrain of western Kenya politics.
At the age of 59, the Busia Governor today stands not only as the county’s chief executive but also as one of the most influential figures inside the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), following sweeping party changes that have shaken the opposition’s top organs.
Born on September 15, 1966, Otuoma is a trained veterinary surgeon, having studied Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nairobi before later acquiring an MBA.
He worked in the agricultural and animal health sector, experiences that he confided to Daily News Kenya-International that exposed him to grassroots livelihoods and shaped his policy outlook long before he ventured into elective politics.
Those close to him say his motivation to join politics stemmed from frustration with underdevelopment in border communities and a belief that technocrats needed to play a bigger role in leadership.
His big political break came in 2007 when he joined ODM and contested the Funyula parliamentary seat.
In what was then considered a political earthquake, Otuoma defeated veteran politician and sitting Vice President Moody Awori.
The win elevated him to national prominence, marking the fall of one of Kenya’s longest serving political figures and symbolising the generational shift ushered in by ODM’s wave.
Otuoma would go on to serve two terms as MP and later as Minister for Local Government during the Grand Coalition Government, gaining experience in national administration and party politics.
He also at one time served as minister for sports.
As devolution took shape, Otuoma set his sights on the Busia governorship.
In 2013, he vied against Sospeter Ojaamong in an intensely contested ODM nomination and general election.
The race polarised Busia, with campaigns so heated that parts of Busia town and the Kenya–Uganda border corridor were periodically paralysed.
Ojaamong narrowly emerged victorious, becoming Busia’s first governor, while Otuoma was forced to retreat and reassess his strategy.
The rivalry between the two would define Busia politics for nearly a decade.
Ojaamong went on to win a second term in 2017, running on a record that included expansion of health facilities, county legislation, road upgrades and efforts to stabilise county finances.
Supporters credit Ojamong with laying the institutional foundation of the county, while critics accuse his administration of slow project completion, alleged corruption and uneven development.
Residents frequently complained about stalled infrastructure, water shortages and poor service delivery, issues that became ammunition for his opponents.
For Otuoma, the 2017 loss marked a low point.
He fell out with ODM, citing unfair party processes, and briefly distanced himself from the party in what allies described as a protest rather than a permanent divorce.
His “on-and-off” relationship with ODM during this period raised questions about his future, but behind the scenes he continued to build networks and quietly worked his way back into Raila Odinga’s fold.
The turning point came ahead of the 2022 elections.
With Ojaamong term limited, ODM rallied behind Otuoma, who campaigned as a tested administrator promising to fix what he described as “unfinished devolution business.”
He won the governorship convincingly, finally capturing the seat that had eluded him twice and cementing his political comeback.
Now firmly in control of Busia County, Otuoma has pushed an agenda centred on agriculture, health services, cross border trade and administrative reforms.
At the same time, his stock within ODM has risen sharply.
In a dramatic shake up of the party’s National Executive Committee, ODM removed Saboti MP Caleb Amisi as Deputy Organising Secretary and replaced him with Otuoma.
The party also dropped veteran Uasin Gishu politician Kipkorir Menjo and Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma from the NEC, changes that took effect immediately and signalled a major internal realignment.
Otuoma’s appointment places him at the nerve centre of ODM’s grassroots machinery, a role previously held by Amisi, and underscores the new party leader Oburu Oginga trust in him as the party prepares for future battles.
However, the move has opened the door to legal and political uncertainty.
Some analysts say Amisi as he promised will challenge the decision in court, drawing parallels to past cases where party officials were reinstated after judicial intervention, including the Edwin Sifuna saga in which a court reversed an ODM NEC decision and nullified an acting replacement.
If such a challenge succeeds, ODM could be forced into another embarrassing climb down. If it fails, Otuoma’s grip on party organisation will only tighten, potentially positioning him as a national power broker beyond Busia.
Either way, his trajectory suggests he is no longer just a county boss but a key figure in ODM’s internal chessboard.
As for Ojaamong, his political future remains uncertain.
Despite his achievements as governor, his recent attempts to return to elective politics have faced stiff resistance, and his strongest opposition now comes from a younger crop of leaders capitalising on voter fatigue and past governance grievances.
From defeating a sitting vice president, losing and regrouping, to finally capturing the governor’s seat and returning to ODM’s inner circle, Paul Otuoma’s journey mirrors the volatility of Kenyan politics itself.
What lies ahead will depend on how he balances county leadership with national party responsibilities and whether the latest ODM reshuffle survives the test of the courts and internal dissent.
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🗓️ [DNK-International@February 13,2026]
