- Omukoko is the founder of Metropol TV and Metropol Corporation- the pioneer Credit Reference Bureau in Kenya and Uganda
- The businessman is however yet to announce his party of choice
Financial management expert and entrepreneur Sammy Omukoko has joined the race to succeed Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
Omukoko, who is the founder of Metropol TV and Metropol Corporation- the pioneer Credit Reference Bureau in Kenya and Uganda, confirmed to the Star he will be contesting for the seat after keeping residents speculating for months.
Omukoko is however yet to declare his party of choice but said he will campaign on a platform of elevating household prosperity.
“I want to work with the people of Kakamega to create socio-economic prosperity and a more cohesive society with focus on households prosperity,” he said.
Omukoko hopes to change the fortunes of the county with his vast experience in financial management and is banking on professionals from the county to back his candidature.
He has worked both in government and private banking sector.
Omukoko holds a bachelor of science degree from University of Nairobi and a masters in Finance from the same institution.
He is currently a PHD student at the university.
"I promise to be the manager and leader that will champion that transformation and bring the desired change,” he said.
Kakamega is the epicentre of Western region politics and its control is significant for political bigwigs eying national leadership.
The county is the third most populous devolved unit after Nairobi and Kiambu.
Those who have shown interest in the seat are current Deputy Governor Philip Kutima, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, former area Senator Boni Khalwale, Lugari MP Ayub Savula and County Assembly Clerk Laban Atemba.
Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Chief Executive Officer Fernandes Barasa is said to be eying the seat but is yet to go public.
Kutima is a professor of Microbiology from the University of North Carolina in the US.
He ran unsuccessfully for the Malava parliamentary seat. Before Oparanya picked him as a running mate, he was lecturing at JKUAT.
Khalwale was Kakamega’s first senator and unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2017.
Malala is a thespian and was Mahiakalo MCA from 2013 to 17. Savula was elected Lugari MP on the UDF ticket in 2013 and re-elected on the ANC ticket in 2017.
Political analysts are of the view that the race to succeed Oparanya would be a three-horse race pitting ANC, ODM and UDA candidates.
Political realignments at the national level are expected to have a direct bearing on the succession.