Calvince Okoth, popularly known as Gaucho, has announced his intention to vie for a parliamentary seat in 2027.
Speaking on Monday, Gaucho said he was weighing options, including Embakasi East, currently represented by Babu Owino. He also mentioned Murang’a County and his rural home in Rongo as potential alternatives.
“Come 2027, I will be an MP,” Gaucho said.
“(The late) Raila Odinga wanted me to be an MP in 2027 and there were some things we talked about which I can’t say because there might be people after my blood, but when I become an MP I will make public.”
Succession politics and rising profile
Gaucho’s potential bid for the Embakasi East seat means he will be among the many aspirants that will be seeking to succeed flamboyant Owino, who is serving his second term in parliament.
Owino is a prominent anti-Ruto figure in Nairobi politics and has announced his intention to contest the gubernatorial seat.
Gaucho’s hopes will be fueled by his online popularity but critics point that such activism is not enough to propel one to electoral success, in Nairobi which has complex political dynamics.
In early April, Gaucho’s name has been a subject of intense public discourse after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja appointed him to the board of Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, sparking mixed reactions.
While supporters viewed the move as recognition of the most basic of grassroots voices in governance, critics continue to question the criteria used to appoint board members, and how professional qualifications and experience influence decisions.
