ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto are headed for a battle for the control of the Council of Governors.
The two former allies are expected to front candidates who will push their respective agenda as succession politics hots up.
“We will have elections this month on 20th,” the Council of Governors chairman Wycliffe Oparanya told the Star on the phone.
Other CoG officials refused to comment on the elections as factions jostle for the top seat.
“Interested candidates are expected to forward their names next week on Tuesday so that the council can prepare for polls. We will vote by secret ballot,” an aide to a governor said.
The council creates a forum for consultation amongst county governments and information sharing on the performance of the counties.
Other duties are considering reports from other intergovernmental forums on national and county interests.
Those who have already shown the interest in the chairmanship post are Oparanya, Ali Roba (Mandera), Josphat Nanok (Turkana) and Mwai Iria (Murang’a).
“We also know Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru might take part since she loves keeping her cards on the chest,” a top CoG official told the Star.
County bosses interested in the positions are already carrying out intense lobbying for the seat.
Though Jubilee enjoys a majority in the CoG, insiders believe the effects of the handshake might influence the voting patterns.
CoG chief executive Jacqueline Mogeni, whose term was renewed for three years, is out of the country and he is the only one who is allowed to speak to the media.
Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok was replaced in the last polls by ODM deputy party leader and Kakamega county chief Oparanya.
“They used a simple strategy. A Mt Kenya governor was used to demand that those who were holding positions at that time should not contest, pushing Nanok and his team out,” a governor told the Star.
This lead to a rift between Raila and Nanok, which has seen the Turkana governor, a former ally of the ODM leader, start working with Ruto.
Oparanya beat Waiguru, Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Salim Mvurya (Kwale) and Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu).
The vice-chairman of the CoG is Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria who succeeded Waiguru in elections held in Nairobi in January last year.
Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto was the inaugural CoG chairman from 2013-15.
