• The move will force them to resign by February next year, which has been set as the deadline for public officers going for political seats.
• IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati has said those seeking elective seats must resign by February next year.
Image: JOHN NALIANYA
As the general election nears, some top staff in Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati's administration have shown interest in seeking political seats.
They include county executive committees, chief officers, directors and advisers.
The move will force them to resign by February next year, which has been set as the deadline for public officers going for political seats.
Among those who have expressed interest is director of special programmes Carol Buyela, who is eyeing the Webuye East MP seat.
The seat is currently occupied by Alfred Sambu of ANC. The MP is serving his third term.
Water, tourism and natural resources executive Renson Makheti and agriculture chief officer John Wasike have also shown interest in the Webuye West MP seat.
Current MP Dan Wanyama is serving his second term.
Roads executive Collins Mukhongo is said to be strategising on how to unseat Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi.
Mukhongo is banking on the development projects that the Wangamati-led administration has carried out in the constituency.
Mukhongo's roads department, through the help of the World Bank, has helped build several roads in Bungoma town.
Lands and emerging issues adviser Wakoli Bifwoli has declared interest in unseating Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga.
Wakoli is a former Bumula MP.
Mwambu, who was elected as an independent candidate, is serving his first term in office.
Wangamati's adviser on matters of youth and boda bodas, Nancy Kibaba, is seeking to unseat Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga.
She contested for the seat in the 2017 General Election, but lost to Wambilianga during the Ford Kenya party nominations.
Deputy county secretary Isaac Mukenya is said to be in the race for Matulo ward seat that is currently occupied by Jubilee's second term MCA Paul Wanyonyi.
Director of transport and logistics Simiyu Mutaki will for the second time seek the Chwele\Kabuchai ward seat currently held by Barasa Mukhongo.
Martin Wafula, the economic adviser, is also in the race for Maraka ward seat. Bungoma ODM chairman Ali Machani is the incumbent.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati has said those seeking elective seats must resign by February next year.
Political analyst Isaac Wanjekeche said the moves by a section of Wangamati's cabinet members will either be a curse or a blessing to the county chief.
“They can be foot soldiers or will be spoilers for Wangamati who will be depending on them to campaign for his own re-election,” he said.
"A scenario will arise whereby if Wangamati sends any of those staff vying for seats to look for votes in their wards or constituencies, they will begin looking for their own votes and forget about the governor's reelection," Wanjekeche said.
He said the second acid test would be which party they would contest, bearing in mind that Wangamati and Senator Moses Wetang’ula had a fall out after last year's wrangles in Ford Kenya.
Edited by A.N