Ominde points to the success of women governors in the country as evidence that the tide is turning and that Vihiga is ready to embrace female leadership, and she is determined to show that a woman’s leadership can bring about transformative change for the people.
By Daniel Otieno, Vihiga
Jannet Afandi Ominde’s announcement to run for Vihiga governorship seat in 2027 is reshaping the political landscape, complicating the race for Senator Godfrey Osotsi and Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba.
What was once considered a two-horse race, is now far more challenging, prompting the duo to rethink their strategies.
Both Osotsi and Milemba had intended to secure running mates from Tiriki or Maragoli land, but Ominde, a Tiriki herself, has not only earned strong support from women across the county but also positioned herself as a serious contender.
Tiriki’s now believe it’s time for their community to produce a governor, with the possibility of being deputized by a Maragoli, who are the majority. The first Governor, Rev. Moses Akaranga, hailed from Maragoli and the current Governor Dr Wilber Ottichilo is from Bunyore.
Her entry into the race compels Osotsi and Milemba to reconsider their strategies, as they now confront a contender who offers fresh leadership and a stronger bond with the community. The stakes have never been higher.
Others rumored to be in the race are MPs Beatrice Adagala (Vihiga Woman Rep), George Aladwa (Makadara) and Vihiga Roads Minister Prof Mike Iravo.
Her decision comes at a time when Kenyan women have increasingly made their mark in leadership roles, with prominent figures such as Gladys Wanga (Homabay), Fatuma Mohamed Achani (Kwale), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), and Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) rising to power as county governors.
Ominde is determined to follow in their footsteps, asserting that Vihiga, just like other counties, is ready for a woman to lead.
“The best man for the job is always a Woman. The thing about county leadership is to be able to demonstrate great management and leadership skills. The role of Governor is that of a Chief Executive officer that requires someone with a great vision and who can structure the delivery of that vision with precision,” said Ms Ominde
She went on: “The County boss needs to be a strategic thinker, an intentional leader, a skilled operations manager and a keen person to details. It also requires someone with great interpersonal relationships, a networker and an innovator. I believe Vihiga needs a leader with great accountability, transparency and 100 percent human, I am that individual,”
Education and Experience
What drives Ms Ominde to vie for the governorship is her personal story of perseverance. Raised in poverty, she walked barefoot to school and lived in a grass-thatched house, often sharing her bedroom with chickens. “I went to school thanks to the support I received from others. My school uniform was the best cloth I had, reserved for church, important events, and Christmas,” she recalls.
Having grown up fighting for basic needs, she hawked bananas in the market, often struggling to sell even a few at Sh3. Yet, despite these challenges, she was the top student in high school, a record that stood for years. “I understand the struggles my people in Vihiga face. I am the solution to these challenges because education made me who I am today,”
Ominde hails from Jemange village in Hamisi constituency. She is the second born in a family of nine children. Her educational journey began at Givogi Primary School, followed by Kaimosi Girls High School, and later Mukumu Girls High School for her A-levels.
Ominde pursued her undergraduate degree in Economics and Sociology at Egerton University before furthering her studies with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nairobi, majoring in Strategic Management.
She has also attended various executive training programs at prestigious business schools worldwide, including Strathmore Business School in Nairobi, IESE Business School in Spain, Gordon Business School in South Africa, Stanford Business School in the UK and Lagos Business School in Nigeria.
Ms Ominde previously worked at Safaricom PLC for 21 years, where she played a key role in establishing 45 customer care shops across the country. “In 2007, I personally drove to Garissa to open a Safaricom shop, bringing services closer to the people. Because of this initiative, I’m celebrated at Safaricom for my contributions,” she says.
A strong advocate for excellent customer service, Jannet is proud to have contributed to Safaricom’s growth to 41 million subscribers, ensuring that all customer issues are resolved promptly.
She also expanded the Safaricom call centres to western Kenya locations, investing Sh841 million in the Eldoret state-of-the-art call centre, the best in East and Central Africa. This expansion resulted in an immediate financial impact of Sh1.6 billion on Eldoret town.
“Whenever we launched a project at Safaricom, we always assessed its value and impact,” she explains. In Vihiga, where she hails from, many of the voters are her customers, and she believes they will evaluate her based on the quality of service she provided.
She joined the company at its inception as a junior manager, gradually rising to the role of Director in the Commercial Division.
For over eight years, Ominde managed an operational budget of Sh5.6 billion and oversaw a staff of over 3,000 people.
Her success in sales, marketing, public relations, and customer experience, along with her hands-on leadership style, has earned her recognition as one of Kenya’s top talents in the corporate sector.
“My delivery Year-over-Year (YOY) at Safaricom leaves an admirable record of top performing talent. I had the privilege of working directly under Michael Joseph, the late Bob Collymore and Sylvia Mulinge, these iconic persons mentored me into one of the best talents Kenya can boast about today,” Ominde added
Leadership with vision
As she sets her sights on the Vihiga governorship, Ominde emphasizes on the need for a leader who can demonstrate great management, precision, and results.
In her view, county leadership is about delivering tangible results that directly impact the lives of the people.
To this end, Ominde plans to prioritize the needs of Vihiga’s citizens by engaging in data-driven decision-making, ensuring that projects align with the financial capacity and urgency of the community.
She aims to establish a transparent, accountable, and results-oriented administration that will actively seek feedback from the public.
“We all must be clear about what is priority for Vihiga people, this can only be insights driven NOT boardroom driven. This is the only way to establish what matters most to the common person. Once this is established, we must prioritize based on financial muscle, urgency and importance or impact,” said Ominde
She went on: “Delivery of projects must get full commitment all across and I intend to participate in the same offering enablement to those charged with implementation. We should be open to public scrutiny as a public office, this means we shall share both online and physically the progression of key undertakings, seeking inputs and feedback from the public, I mean genuine objective feedback,”
As the first woman to run for governor in Vihiga, Ominde acknowledges the cultural and societal barriers women often face in leadership.
However, she is undeterred, citing the pioneering work of women such as Priscillah Ambwao and Ms Norega, who have led in the region long before her.
Furthermore, Ominde points to the success of women governors in the country as evidence that the tide is turning. She believes that Vihiga is ready to embrace female leadership, and she is determined to show that a woman’s leadership can bring about transformative change for the people.
A vision for economic empowerment
Ominde’s vision for Vihiga goes beyond just governance; she is committed to transforming the county into a self-reliant economic powerhouse. Her approach centers on food security, which she sees as the cornerstone of poverty eradication and improved health outcomes.
By leveraging modern agricultural technologies and providing farmers with the necessary support, Ominde plans to boost food production across the county. She envisions a future where Vihiga’s people grow their own food, improving both nutrition and economic stability.
Additionally, Ominde aims to harness Vihiga’s untapped resources, such as the mining of granite and other precious stones, to spur industrialization and create jobs, particularly for the youth. She also sees a great opportunity in the county’s potential for horticulture and aqua farming, both of which can provide alternative livelihoods for the community.
Sports and the performing arts are also central to Ominde’s economic agenda. She is keen on establishing sports academies, performing arts facilities, and other institutions that can nurture local talent. By investing in these sectors, Ominde believes that Vihiga can produce world-class athletes and musicians, further boosting its economy and reputation.
Empowering women and promoting gender equality
The governorship candidate is passionate about biodiversity and inclusion, advocating for the empowerment of marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities (PWDs). During her tenure at Safaricom, she hired 176 PWDs in her division alone.
She will also prioritize the inclusion of minority tribes, such as the Terik in Vihiga, by ensuring they were considered for senior appointments.
One of her key strategies for empowering women is to encourage them to form groups, where they can support one another in their business endeavors. Ominde’s goal is to create an environment where women can grow their businesses, gain financial independence, and contribute to the overall development of Vihiga.
