A Fierce political fight is looming at the counties after at least 20 senators have declared their interest to run for the county’s top seat.
The Senators have come out to express their interest, effectively laying grounds for epic political battles barely two years to the next General Elections.
The Senators are either eyeing to dislodge governors currently serving their first term or succeed those serving their second and last term.
At the moment Kenya has 67 senators of which 47 are elected while 20 are nominated.
In comparison to power, Governors are more than the senators who earn Sh621,250 plus other sitting allowances and other benefits accorded to them
Out of the 47 current Governors, 26 of them are serving their last term
Among those serving their last lap in the office include Council of Governor’s boss Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Okoth Obado (Migori), Josphat Nanok (Turkana) and Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu).
Some of the senators who are either planning to dislodge the first term governors or take from the outgoing county chiefs include;
- Senators Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi)
- Fred Outa (Kisumu)
- Ochillo Ayacko (Migori)
- Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a)
- James Orengo (Siaya)
- Cleophas Malala (Kakamega).
- Steward Madzayo (Kilifi)
- Ledama Olekina (Narok)
- Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi)
- Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho)
- Samson Cherargei (Nandi)
- Enoch Wambua (Kitui)
- Susan Kihika (Nakuru)
More Senators seeking the position but do not want to go on record citing it is too early to disclose their interest on the county’s top job.
Some of the senators who are also rumoured to be seeing the governor’s postion include the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen and Senator Michael Mbito of Trans Nzoia.
The 2022 politics is said to be partly to blame for the current statement in the Senate over the proposed revenue sharing formula between the counties.
Sources say that those who oppose the formula are those Senators who counties would lose saying the agreeing to the proposal would come to hunt them and ruin their chances of getting elected.
Nairobi Senator, Johnson Sakaja who bowed out of the Gubernatorial race at last minute in the run-up to 2017 election, said he would not mind vying for the gubernatorial seat.
“It is my constitutional right. If the people of Nairobi feel I will serve them better as governor, I will go for it,” Sakaja said.
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The interest of Senator Sakaja for the county’s top seat has put him at loggerhead with current Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko who has accused him of fighting his administration with the sole aim of unseating him.
In Lake Lakeside City, Senator Fred Outa declared his interest to run for the gubernatorial seat come 2022.
“I am no longer in control of my bid for governor. It is beyond my control now. Let’s wait for 2022,” he told the Star.
The Kisumu Senator has continuously attacked Governor Nyong’o’s administration something that has been viewed as his tactics to discredit the governor in the eyes of the voters.
