A showdowns loom in at least 18 counties where big shots are gearing up for fierce battles to succeed sitting governors in next year's polls.
Seasoned, influential and well-oiled bigwigs are scheming for fights of their lives for the coveted seats.
Some are seeking to defend their seats,while others are plotting to succeed retiring county chiefs.
The constitution provides that governors, like the president, serve for a maximum of two five-year terms.
The battles are posing headache for the 2022 presidential candidates whose confidants have declared interests.
DP William Ruto, ODM boss Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka are walking a political tightrope over nominations.
An analysis by the Star shows that the races will be hottest in nearly half the counties.
They are Kirinyaga, Homa Bay, Meru, Kisii, Mombasa, Kajiado, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Bomet, Murang'a and Kiambu.
The battle will also be exciting in Tharaka Nithi, Kakamega, Kitui, Machakos, Marsabit and Kilifi.
In Mombasa, the race for the ODM ticket is pitting Raila’s three lieutenants—Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, businessman Suleiman Shahbal and deputy governor William Kingi.
Former Senator Hassan Omar, an ally of the DP, is seeking the UDA ticket.
Nassir has proved loyal to Raila and his ODM party over the years and is the chairman of the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee.
However, Shahbal, on the other hand, is a wealthy businessman who decamped from Jubilee a few months ago.
Kingi has been Joho’s deputy since 2017.
Last week, Joho who is also the ODM deputy party leader, threw spanner in the works when he appeared to endorse Nassir.
“I will come here to support some of my brothers and to take them forward. Abdulswamad wants the governorship. This is the journey and we have set the direction for you to follow,” Joho said.
Raila faces yet another headache in Kisii and Homa Bay where his close confidants are battling for ODM ticket to succeed retiring governors.
In Kisii, firebrand and youthful Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati is in an all-out battle with Senator Sam Ongeri, 83.
Deputy governor Joash Maangi, who recently denounced his alliance to Ruto is also angling for the ODM ticket to succeed governor James Ongwae.
Both Ongeri and Arati are trusted allies of Raila. Woman Rep Janet Ongera, a former ODM secretariat head is also in the race.
“I am going to sit down with them (Ongeri, Janet and Maangi) to have a discussion with the aim of reaching a consensus on who will fly the ODM flag,” Ongwae said last Sunday.
Another battle of titans is shaping up in Homa Bay.
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Woman Rep Gladys Wanga, ODM national chairman John Mbadi and politician Joseph Magwanga are fighting for ODM ticket.
Last month, Raila’s wife, Ida, called for consensus among the county governor aspirants ahead of party primaries.
“I know those who want to be Homa Bay governor campaign hard to win the ODM ticket. But I wish they could come and agree to keep violence at bay before nominations,” Ida said.
In Machakos, the fight will be between allies of Kalonzo, Ruto and incumbent governor Alfred Mutua.
Former senator Johnstone Muthama and Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka, both Ruto’s men, are eyeing UDA ticket to succeed Mutua.
Muthama is the UDA national chairman while Munyaka is a loyal supporter of the DP.
Kalonzo will be torn between supporting Transport CAS Wavinya Ndeti, ex-Machakos County Assembly speaker Bernard Mung’ata and Mavoko MP Patrick Makau.
Machakos Speaker Florence Mwangangi and lawyer Kyatha Mbaluka are also angling for the Wiper ticket.
“As MPs in Wiper express team, we have agreed to throw our weight behind Makau who we believe is the right man to be the Machakos governor,” Matungulu MP Stephen Mulee recently said.
The county is considered Kalonzo’s political bastion but his party lost the seat to Mutua, who is Maendelo Chap Chap party leader.
Aggressive political battle also looms in Kirinyaga where incumbent Governor Anne Waiguru and Woman Rep Purity Ngirici will face off for Ruto's UDA ticket.
Senator Charles Kibiru, former governor Joseph Ndathi and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua are also eyeing the governor seat.
Kibiru, an independent senator, will likely use Jubilee as his political vehicle while Karua will use her party to seek the seat.
In Kajiado, the race will be between governor Joseph Ole Lenku, his predecessor David Nkedianye and MPs Peris Tobiko and Katoo Ole Metito.
Lenku, an ally of the President, will likely defend his seat on Jubilee ticket.
Nkedianye is an ODM member while Tobiko and Ole Metito will fight for Ruto's UDA ticket.
In Kitui, governor Charity Ngilu will face off with ex-governor Julius Malombe and former senator David Musila.
Others eyeing the seat include former Nairobi deputy governor Jonathan Mueke and Kenya’s ambassador to Uganda Kiema Kilonzo.
While Ngilu will use her Narc party as a political vehicle to defend her seat, Malombe, Musila and Kilonzo will fight for Wiper ticket.
Mueke will eye the UDA ticket.
“Those who have eyes need not to be asked to see. You can see for yourself,” Kilonzo said as he launched his candidature last week.
So far, Mueke is the only aspirant seeking to dislodge Ngilu on Ruto’s UDA party ticket.
Senator Cleophas Malala, his predecessor Bonny Khalwale, deputy governor Philip Kutima, Lugari MP Ayub Savula and Ketraco CEO Fernandes Barasa are eying Kakamega governor post.
Malala, a first term senator, will fight for ANC ticket with Savula.
Kutima will be seeking ODM party ticket.
“I am ready to take on the seasoned politicians and let them expect a tough battle,” Barasa was quoted saying recently.
In Nandi, the race will be between Governor Stephen Sang, Senator Samson Cherargei and former governor Cleophas Lagat.
They are all allies of the DP and will be fighting for UDA ticket.
Similar battles are expected in Uasin Gishu and Bomet where DP’s men are fighting for the UDA ticket to contest for the governor seats.
In Uasin Gishu, Soy MP Caleb Kositany will face off with Nairobi Devolution executive Vesca Kangogo and Jonathan Bii in the UDA primaries.
The winner will face businessman Budotich Buzeki at the polls.
In Bomet, Governor Hillary Barchok will fight with Petroleum CAS John Mosonik in UDA primaries.
The winner will face off with former governor Isaac Ruto of Chama cha Mashinani.
Governor Muthomi Njuki, Senator Kithure Kindiki and Chuka University vice chancellor Erastus Njoka will face off for Tharaka Nithi governor seat.
Kindiki is a close ally of DP Ruto and will likely run for the seat on UDA ticket.
In Kiambu, incumbent governor James Nyoro will face off with former governor William Kabogo, senator Kimani Wamatangi and Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina.
Nyoro and Wamatangi will fight for Jubilee ticket while Kabogo will run on his party—Tujibebe Wakenya’s ticket.
Wainaina has declared he will seek the UDA ticket.
In Nakuru, the race will be between Governor Lee Kinyanjui and Senator Susan Kihika.
While Kihika is a Ruto loyalist, Kinyanjui is supporting Raila’s Azimio La Umoja.
Kinyanjui recently launched his party, Ubuntu People’s Forum on whose ticket he will defend his seat.
In Kilifi, Ruto’s ally Aisha Jumwa will battle it out with CAS Gideon Mungaro and National Land Commissioner Kazungu Kambi to succeed Governor Amason Kingi.
The county is considered Raila’s political base.
Jumwa will eye the UDA ticket.
Governor Kiraitu Murungi, Agriculture CS Peter Munya, Senator Mithika Linturi and Woman Rep Kawira Mwangaza are all eyeing Meru governor seat.
Murungi recently launched Devolution Empowerment, Bus, on whose ticket he will defend his seat.
Munya will likely use Democratic Party while Linturi and Mwangaza will go for UDA ticket.
In Murang'a, Senator Irungu Kangata, Woman Rep Sabina Chege, former Minister Jamleck Kamau and former PS Irungu Nyakera are angling to succeed Governor Mwangi Wairia.
Kangata will run on UDA while Sabina is likely use Jubilee ticket. It’s not clear the parties Kamau and Nyakenga will use.
In Marsabit, governor Mohamed Ali will face off with Treasury CS Ukur Yatani and US-based scholar Umuro Sora.
Ali is affiliated to United Democratic Party while Yatani leads the yet to be formed Upya movement.
-Edited by SKanyara
