I am worth about Sh1 billion, says Owalo

Eliud Owalo during an interview with Radio Maisha on April 7./HANDOUT

Former Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo has indicated that his net worth stands at approximately Sh1 billion.

He attributed his wealth to years of professional work and strategic expertise.

Speaking during an interview on Radio Maisha about his financial standing, Owalo addressed suggestions of impropriety, stating that his wealth is legitimate.

“I am about 1 billion shillings worth,” he stated, adding that all his earnings have been acquired through clean and lawful means.

Owalo emphasised that his financial growth has not been tied to his position in government, maintaining that he built his wealth long before taking up public office. He noted that his assets have continued to appreciate naturally over time.

“All the assets I had before I got into government, their value has gone up, and they will continue to go that way,” he said.

Owalo underscored the importance of innovation and intellectual capital in wealth creation, pointing to his career as a strategist as the foundation of his financial success.

“You have to be creative and innovative, using your brains. I have always used my brains to make money,” he explained.

Before joining the government, Owalo said he had established himself as one of the most sought-after strategists on the African continent, offering advisory services that earned him significant income and recognition.

“Before I got into government, I was one of the most sought-after strategists in Africa,” he noted.

On public claims that he is William Ruto's “project”, he said the claims do not reflect his position.

He stated that he is pursuing an independent political path.

He said suggestions that he continues to act in alignment with the President, following his resignation from government, do not reflect his position.

“I am not Ruto’s project. I cannot be anybody’s project because I am above that,” Owalo stated.

He defended his political decisions, pointing out that his past support for Ruto had always been transparent and publicly declared.

In January 2026, Owalo formally declared his intention to contest the presidency in the 2027 General Election, marking a significant shift in his political trajectory.

He said his continued stay in government would be untenable following his declaration.

“Following my declaration earlier today that I intend to run for the Presidency of the Republic of Kenya in the year 2027, my position as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Delivery and Government Efficiency, is no longer tenable. I have therefore resigned from the position with immediate effect,” Owalo wrote in a social media post dated January 12, 2026.

During his tenure, Owalo was tasked with coordinating government delivery and enhancing efficiency across various state functions, a role that placed him at the centre of the administration’s performance agenda.