DNK International Emuhaya MP Jeremiah Omboko Milemba is positioning himself for a major political battle in Vihiga County as he seeks to become governor in the 2027 General Election.
Milemba is banking on his experience as a teacher, trade unionist, legislator and ruling party (UDA) senior official to strengthen his bid.
Milemba, who rose to national prominence through the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), has built a political career around teachers’ welfare, education and grassroots mobilisation.
His appointment as Deputy Secretary General of President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has further elevated his profile within the ruling party as Kenya heads towards the 2027 elections.
Born in Emuhaya, Vihiga County,he traces his career from the classroom to the national political stage.
He attended Chemelil Sugar Primary School between 1974 and 1982 before proceeding to Onjiko High School, where he studied from 1983 to 1986.
He later attended Bungoma High School for his A-level studies between 1987 and 1988 before joining Moi University for his university education where he majored in the field of education.
Before entering elective politics, Milemba spent years in the education sector, teaching at secondary schools and serving in school administration.
He also worked with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), including as a principal, before becoming a prominent teachers’ union official.
His involvement in trade unionism provided the foundation for his political career.
He was among the founding members of KUPPET, established in 1998, and rose through its leadership structures, serving in regional positions before becoming national chairman.
Milemba has served as KUPPET national chairman for long, building a reputation as a vocal advocate for teachers’ salaries, promotions, working conditions and professional welfare.
His union leadership gave him access to a national network of teachers and education stakeholders, helping him establish himself beyond Vihiga County.
Milemba’s transition into elective politics culminated in the 2017 General Election, when he was elected MP for Emuhaya Constituency on an Amani National Congress (ANC) ticket which was led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
He retained the seat in the 2022 General Election, establishing himself as a two term legislator.
His move into Parliament marked a new chapter in a career previously dominated by labour activism.
As an MP, he has participated in parliamentary work touching on education, labour and social welfare, while defending the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), which supports bursaries for needy students and development projects, including school infrastructure.
In September 2022, Milemba publicly defended NG-CDF, arguing that the fund was important in helping bright but financially disadvantaged students access education.
He also called for action on teachers’ stagnating promotions and criticised obstacles to negotiations over their welfare.
His background as a teacher and union leader has remained central to his political identity, although the full extent of his constituency development achievements requires assessment against documented projects, expenditure records and outcomes for Emuhaya residents.
Milemba’s most consequential political realignment as established by Daily News Kenya-International, came through the merger of ANC and UDA in January 2025.
At the time, he was serving as ANC secretary general, a position that placed him at the centre of the party’s organisational affairs during negotiations over its political future.
ANC led by Mudavadi agreed to merge with Ruto’s UDA, bringing the two parties into a single political outfit.
The merger was announced at State House in Nairobi on January 17, 2025, in the presence of Ruto and Mudavadi.
Milemba participated in the merger process and exchanged merger documents with UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar during the ceremony.
Following the agreement, he was appointed UDA Deputy Secretary General, while Lamu Governor Issa Timamy became deputy party leader and former ANC chairman Kelvin Lunani was appointed deputy chairperson.
His new position placed him among the officials responsible for the ruling party’s organisational affairs, political coordination and preparations for future elections.
The merger has presented Milemba with a political dilemma.
Having previously served in ANC, he now operates within a ruling party structure as he pursues his own ambitions in Vihiga, where Mudavadi remains an influential political figure.
Milemba has declared his intention to contest the Vihiga gubernatorial seat in 2027 and has rejected claims that he intends to withdraw from the race.
In May 2026, he insisted that he remained in the contest and was ready to face his rivals in UDA party nominations.
His declaration signalled that he intends to compete for the party ticket rather than automatically step aside for another aspirant.
The contest is expected to test his grassroots networks, political alliances and ability to convert his experience in national leadership into support across all five constituencies in Vihiga County.
His gubernatorial ambitions place him in a potentially competitive field that includes Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi and other leaders seeking to control the county government.
His former association with ANC could offer him political networks in the region, but the merger means he must now navigate UDA’s internal nomination politics and competition from other aspirants.
Milemba’s influence in Western Kenya is rooted in both his trade union background and his political association with Mudavadi’s former party.
His years at KUPPET gave him a constituency among education professionals, while his election to Parliament established him as an elected representative with a direct political base in Emuhaya.
His new position in UDA offers another platform from which to build alliances in Vihiga and the wider Western region.
Nevertheless, his influence should not be confused with automatic control of the region’s electorate, where political loyalties are divided among competing parties and leaders.
As Deputy Secretary-General of UDA, Milemba is also positioned to support the party’s preparations for the 2027 General Election, including its efforts to retain the presidency for Ruto.
His responsibilities place him within the political machinery seeking to consolidate support for the President and strengthen the ruling party’s presence in regions where opposition parties have traditionally enjoyed considerable backing.
For Milemba, the challenge will be balancing his national party responsibilities with his local gubernatorial ambitions.
His support for Ruto’s re-election could help him cultivate relationships within the ruling coalition, but it will not necessarily guarantee him the UDA ticket or victory in the governor’s race.
Questions also remain about how he will appeal to voters concerned with county level issues such as healthcare, roads, agricultural development, youth employment, water access and the management of public resources.
His experience in education and labour relations gives him a foundation for discussing public services, but voters will ultimately judge his gubernatorial bid on the credibility of his development agenda and ability to address Vihiga’s specific needs.
His political journey illustrates how trade union leadership can become a springboard to elective office and senior party positions.
From advocating for teachers to representing Emuhaya in Parliament and serving in UDA’s national leadership, Milemba has steadily expanded his political reach.
As the 2027 elections approach, his biggest test will be whether he can transform that experience, his education sector connections and his position within the ruling party into a winning coalition across Vihiga County.
The gubernatorial contest will determine whether he can make the next leap from constituency representation and national party leadership to the county’s top executive office.
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🗓️ [Daily News Kenya-International@October 16,2026]
