BY MANUEL ODENY
Ladies and gentlemen, our esteemed readers who made us a Nyanza brand for these six odd months we have existed, we want to say HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!
First before we digressed and jump in the list we want to say that in mid year 2024 we decided to upgrade our website from Migori News, where we have been covering only one county to www.nyanzanews.co.ke to cover the entire region’s counties.
We re-designed and re-shaped our editorial team, logos and social media pages across from this premium website with almost 4million readers, Our ‘Nyanza News TV’ YouTube channel with almost 10k subscribers and Facebook page with 70k+ likes and followers.
We also got major boost in writing from our seasoned writer Kepher Otieno, who is an old hand in the profession from the region alongside other hands.
We have made strides, despite challenges like AdSense delaying to monitise this site like our earlier handle, and we are proud to conquer Nyanza like we did Migori county and already our huge footprints are felt in Siaya, Homa Bay, Kisii, Nyamira and Kisumu counties as the first stop for news, features, analysis and premium videos.
That is why in our maiden Top list in Nyanza we have expanded it to 20 from 10 previous ones we have been doing for Migori County and have also included leaders, institutions and change makers not only in the region but in diaspora.
From top ten list in Migori, only three individuals have made it to the Top 20 Nyanza list out of three politicians, a teacher, two celebrities, three politicians, a lawyer and a businessman we had listed.
uring home coming, the governor called for more time to fulfill his campaign pledges to the people only days after giving the county the first ever football and sports tournament since devolution started.
1. HULDER MOMANYI HILTSLEY: Minnesota House of Representative
The lady with her roots from Nyamira county tops our list by putting Nyanza in the international limelight when she made history as first Kenyan immigrant to win a state assembly seat in the most powerful country in the world; United States of America. She was elected in the last country’s polls to represent District 38A in the Minnesota House of Representatives by almost 65 per cent of voters riding over challenges of immigration. Her father, Phillip Momanyi went to USA as a student in 1988, her mother Tabitha joined him in 1992, followed in 1995 by the then 9-year-old Hiltsley and two siblings. The youngest of her siblings was born in the United States. Her win was historic not only for Kenyans in the country but for other immigrants.
2. RAILA ODINGA: African Union Commission Chairperson Candidate
The African Union (AU) Commission chairperson elections slotted for February shaped much of last year politics and will be the same this year no matter the outcome, and from it is our son from Siaya county who wants to replace the fifth chair Moussa Faki. When nominations was closed on August last year Odinga, former AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development (2018–2023) and Former Prime Minister (2008–2013) remained with Djibouti foreign minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and former Madagascar foreign minister Richard Randriamandrato. The new chair will be elected at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with all former heads coming from western, central and southern regions of the continent. From Nyanza News desk we wish him well.
3. ARCHIMEDES MOTARI: Nurse at Kugitimo Dispensary
Son of Nyanza from Kugitimo Health Centre in Migori county made the region, Kenyans and the entire continent to dream when he was shortlisted among the top 10 finalists for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024, a prestigious award with a Ksh32million award. Motari floored over 78,000 candidates across 202 countries which made his shortlisting to be a fete on itself and show the quality of health care given in our devolved health system. He makes it as the only medic in our list and top none-politician here. Kudos!
4. BABU OWINO: Embakasi East MP and Nairobi Governor Aspirant
When a river is polluted, the strongest and most alive fish will be known from those swimming across the current while others are swept through, and this explains Paul Ongili ‘Babu’ Owino, 36, political moves last year. The Embakasi East MP refused to follow his party ODM and leader Raila Odinga in supporting President William Ruto after their broad based agreement which favours Nairobi governor Johnstone Sakaja, a man he wants to unseat in next polls. His political move has high risks as it sets him to the the second city governor from the region after Evan Kidero was ousted by Mike Sonko in city politics. The region will watch his moves closely.
5. NICHOLAS ‘WUOYI MATIN’ OMONDI: Journalist and Agriprenuer at Victory Eco-Farm- Kisumu
We are proud to include fellow journalist with extensive experience in radio management who turned into agri-preneurship when in 2006 he started Victoria Eco Farm from Dunga Beach, Kisumu which is now a leader in sustainable agri-food and workforce development. The farm stocks over 2,700 mature chicken across two farms and also raises exotic poultry like quails, guinea fowls, geese, turkeys, and ornamental birds such as French Frizzled, Japanese Bantams, Italian Silky, and Fantail Pigeons. Wuoyi Matin is the second top non-elected leader and is Top 5 leader in Nyanza because his vision saw the farm win a multi-million partnership with Vijana na Kilimo project focused on creating employment opportunities for youth in Western Kenya’s agri-food sector while supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in improving their HR practices.
6. GLADYS WANGA: Homa Bay Governor and ODM National Chairman
The 43 years old governor has taken Nyanza and Kenya leadership with a storm wiping the leadership shame that has beleaguered Homa Bay county in the past two election cycle before she was elected on an ODM ticket. Born in Wang’aya in Kisumu County the daughter of John Nyasuna, a councilor and Chairperson in the now-defunct Kisumu County Council she was elected the first county Woman Representative and re-elected un-opposed before becoming Nyanza first female governor in last polls. Since election she has been ranking in all popularity polls in the country, has brought the president in Ruto over a dozen times and had made major development milestones.
7. HARON KAMAU: Businessman, Owner of Karmel Park Hotel- Kisii
We could not find a verified photo of Haron Kamau, but his flagship investment Karmel Park in Kisii which has shaped Nyanza hospitality will suffice as he makes it as the first of the second business people to make it to the list. The serial entrepreneur as described by Business Daily, a national daily, on the premium hotel sitting on a five acre parcel of land to boost a swimming pool that has been integrated with artificially designed caves, cliffs and waterfalls with a helipad, a design borrowed by the own in his numerous China and Dubai visits. He also had investment in transport and real estate. The businessman grows maize on large scale and also rears livestock in Nakuru. He makes the top 20 cut.
8. OCHILLO AYACKO: Migori Governor
The first out of three Migori leaders who made it from our previous list to the Nyanza list and make it to top ten because in 2024 the governor rode through a political storm. He has been made to content with public spats, sometimes ending up in ugly scenes with senator Eddy Oketch, Suna West MP Peter Masara, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, Rongo MP Paul Abuor and several MCAs. His political nemesis have been busy painting him negatively in social function including sponsoring court cases like a prolonged one against county public board which was won recently making all leaders in the county and those outside it often pushing through an elusive unity. All eyes will be on the governor in 2025 how he will ride through the charade and how it will shape Migori development, political careers and his leadership legacy.
9. SHABANA FC: Kenya Premier League Team
The 2022/2023 National Super League will remain etched in Nyanza history as Shabana FC picked it up against Kisumu All Stars on the final match of the season at a fully packed 15,000 capacity Gusii Stadium. This gave us the only home team to Kenya top tier League in Kenya. Despite struggling in the last league season, the club formed in 1980 by Kisii-based businessman Dogo Khan has inspired fans who have stood by it. The highest point for Shabana was when they finished third in the 1987 Kenyan First Division with 50 points (behind champions Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards) and played in the qualification to the 1988 edition of the then equivalent of the CAF Champions League. Ever since they have struggles in low tier leagues and closing shop, making their comeback to be epic as the only KPL team with strong homeground support in Nyanza. To Khan, chairman Jared Nivaton Ombongi, manager Sammy Omollo Pamzo we say kudos.
10. FREDRICK MARWA @IAM_MARWA: YouTuber
His parents came from Kisii region and settled in Nyabohanse in Kuria West where Fredrick Marwa aka @IAm_Marwa started working as a v-logger on YouTube garnering millions of views, the highest being 11million which was shot in Medellin, Columbia (Slain drug lord Pablo Escobar home). He has over 513k subscribers. The blogger recently erected a palatial over Sh10million village mansion which has brought the county to the map. He has inspired so much wanna be YouTubers.
11. RICHARD ONYONKA: Kisii Senator
(Update the list from here will be updated with writeups in rolling basis in the next 24hours)
12. VICTORY FARMS: Biggest Cage Fish Farm in Lake Victoria
The biggest cage fish farm in Lake Victoria in the entire East Africa is Victory Farms based in Homa Bay and their logo, which is printed across almost 90 branches countrywide, is home brand. The farm aims at providing affordable, healthy protein to millions of people in East Africa. It was established in 2015 and already employs around 600 full-time employees, plus many casual workers with much more indirectly and has opened fish mongers to open and maintain their businesses in low income area where tilapia was expensive before.
13. FRED MATIANG’I: Ex-CS and Presidential Hopeful
14. AMOS NYARIBO and THADDEUS NYABARO MOMANYI: Nyamira Governor and Nyamira Speaker
Last year, Nyamira governor stared to impeachment and survived narrowly and according to law an impeachment can only be re-introduced back to the assembly after six months which will be end when recess ends in February. In a highly polarised county, former Manga MCA Enock Okero who was speaker then wan impeached by angry MCAs and Momanyi came in. These two are tied in the hip in 2025 which will add more matrix in Nyaribo’s political career which has always been mercurial.
15. CAROLI OMONDI: Suba South MP
16. MATHEWS OWILI: Kisumu Deputy Governor
17. ESTHER ‘AKOTHEE’ AKOTH KOKEYO: Celebrity
We can’t remember the last time Esther Akoth Kokeyo aka ‘Akothee’ released any music, but she has managed to remain relevant and on the limelight from a high flying divorce. The singer, entrepreneur, and dancer who was born on April 8, 1983 in Kisumu County, has been flirting with vying as the next Migori woman representative after she did communication gigs with the county government which ended in disarray.
18. JHANDA ZAHEER: Nyaribari Chacha MP
Businessman Merhali Zaheer Jhanda captured the Nyaribari Chache MP seat after he lost the seat before to Richard Nyagaka Tongi to ensure the Abagusii community gets a national image as not being insular to hand over the seat, out of nine in Kisii to a Kenyan of Arab extraction. He broke the ethnic and clan politics that are deeply rooted in the Abagusii community. Nyaribari Chache is a largely cosmopolitan constituency in Kisii alongside Kitutu Chache South. He is married to Alice Moraa who comes from the community which solidified his standing. He attended Kisii Primary School and later joined Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho.
19. WILLIAM ODUOL DENGE: Siaya Deputy Governor
He survived an impeachment against him and decided to remain silent, keeping off from office and limelight leaving his boss James Orengo and he will be watched this year and ahead of 2027 general elections. He has over 25 years experience in leadership and even vied in high stakes campaigns for the seat before. He has a cool resume from both private and public sectors, took to be a whistleblower in his own administration against suspicious and huge withdrawal of money from the Siaya County. Will he be picked again in the next polls or will he vie against his own boss?
20. JOSEPH MOGOSI MOTARI: Principal Secretary- Social Protection & Senior Citizen Affairs
When he was appointed to head the docket on 5th December, 2022 which was held by his fellow Kuria compatriot Nelson Marwa, people thought he was going to fill his big shoes. He has decided to only concentrate in several places in the Kuria region and kept off from social functions completely. He is a seasoned career civil servant and administrator who before was Director of Administration in the then State Department for Post Training and Skills Development, Ministry of Education from May 2022 and has a prolonged civil servant career as senior district officer.
