47 politicians were lucky to serve as governors for the first time when devolution was introduced in the country.
When Kenyans got into the general elections in 2017, some of the governors lost their seats to newcomers and other well known politicians.
A number of the former governors sought to make a comeback in this year’s election and some of them have been successful in their quest whereas others have still failed miserably.
Here is a list of former governors that have made history by reclaiming their seats.
Ken Lusaka
Lusaka was the first governor of Bungoma county in the general elections that were conducted in 2013. He sought a re-election in 2017 under Jubilee but Wycliffe Wangamati, who vied under a Ford Kenya ticket floored him. Lusaka also lost his seat after his tenure was rocked with a wheelbarrow scandal. In 2015, Lusaka’s administration allegedly bought 10 wheelbarrows, each at a cost of Kshs109,000.
After failing to defend his governors’ seat, Lusaka landed a job in the Senate as speaker.Â
In the Tuesday August 9 general elections, Lusaka vied on a Ford Kenya ticket while Wangamati vied on a DAP-Kenya party ticket.
Lusaka won after garnering 244,298 votes.
Simon Kachapin
Kachapin served as the first governor of West Pokot and lost elections in 2017 to Professor John Lonyangapuo.
He has successfully made a comeback after beating Lonyangapuo in this year’s election. Kachapin won elections after garnering 86,476 votes against Lonyangapuo’s 84,610.
The winner vied on a UDA ticket while Lonyangapuo vied on a Kenya Union Party (KUP) ticket.
Benjamin Cheboi
Cheboi is also among governors who have made a historic comeback. He was the first governor of Baringo county and in the Tuesday general elections he vied on a UDA ticket. He faced Stanley Kiptis who sought to defend his seat but on Thursday, the incumbent had already conceded defeat.
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