•Some senators have opted to face it off with incumbents who will be seeking their final terms as county bosses.
•Around 21 governors are completing the second terms, while 26 governors are currently serving their first terms.
Image: FILE
For most African politicians, the aim is usually to seek a position that comes with higher power and influence compared to the one they previously held.
As much as such moves have good rewards and are deemed bold, they have put to rest over ambitious individuals who just make the move for higher positions without looking at how the stakes are for them.
Back to Kenyan politics, we are approaching the season where politicians make these moves for higher positions, or smaller but ‘high rewarding’ positions and many are bound to make mistakes along the way, some of which will either build or destroy their careers.
The one lot that is very keen on making these moves is that from the senate, and many of them have publicly declared that they want to succeed their retiring predecessors, with just a few from the National Assembly looking to make that ‘bold’ move.
Some senators have opted to face it off with incumbents who will be seeking their final terms as county bosses.
According to analysts, however, the lucrative opportunities, executive authority and trappings of powers that come with a governor's office are among the motivations for the exodus from the Senate.
The county chiefs control billions of shillings, head the county cabinets and have the power to hire and fire staff. They are considered demigods in their counties.
The Senate seat, on the other hand, is seen as less influential and does not control money like governors who run governments complete with budgets and MPs who control constituency development funds.
Among the senators who have declared interests in governors' seats are Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu), Irungu Kangata (Muranga), James Orengo (Siaya) and Susan Kihika (Nakuru).
Others are Ledama Olekina (Narok), Charles Kibiru (Kirinyaga), Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), George Khaniri (Vihiga), Mithika Linturi (Meru), Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni) and Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi).
Also in the race are Mohamed Mahamud (Mandera), Sam Ongeri (Kisii), Fred Outa (Kisumu), Ochillo Ayacko (Migori), Steward Madzayo (Kilifi), Margaret Kamar (Uasin Gishu), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Okong’o Omogeni (Nyamira), among others who are just yet to declare their bids.
Some of these individuals have gone as far deciding the parties they will be seeking the gubernatorial positions with.
Olekina, Orengo, Madzayo, Ayacko, and Ongeri will be seeking the ODM party ticket in their quests to succeed governors from their respective counties who will be retiring in 2022, while Outa will have to square it out with Prof. Anyang Nyong’o who will be seeking re-election as Kisumu governor.
Kithure Kindiki, Murkomen, Linturi, Kihika and Kang’ata will also be seeking the United Democratic Alliance tickets as they set their eyes on being the bosses of the counties they have been representing in senate.
Makueni’s Mutula Jnr, Kakamega’s Malala are expected to vie using the Wiper and ANC parties which are both under the One Kenya Alliance.
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja is yet to announce which party he will use as he seeks to become the next city county boss.
An opinion poll by research firm Tifa recently indicated that Sakaja is the most popular aspirant for the seat with a 30 per cent rating.
More than 20 senators are expected to vie for governors seats.
Around 21 governors are completing the second terms, while 26 governors are currently serving their first terms.