Eliud Owalo, the immediate former Deputy Chief of Staff, has declared his intention to contest the presidency in 2027. His entry into the presidential race has ignited debate regarding its implications for the Nyanza region. Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo dismissed the move as "hot-air". Odhiambo suggested it could be a strategic political maneuver or a play for other political ambitions. The declaration has been framed as Owalo being either a rival to President Ruto or playing a hidden card.