• Governors, MPs, a senator and former speaker lost seats, some after one term or longer, but they bounced back. Some win after two tries.
• Some voters with high expectations eject incumbents, thinking new people can do better. When it doesn't happen, 'rejects' come back.
Image: ENOS TECHE
Some politicians who lost after serving one or more terms have bounced back and reclaimed their old positions, while others were not so lucky.
Here are some of the comeback kids:
SAMUEL CHEPKONGA
Chepkonga of UDA reclaimed the Ainabkoi parliamentary seat in Uasin Gishu after winning 26,479 votes.
His rival, incumbent William Kamuren Chepkut, won 13,510 votes. He sought reelection as an independent.
For Chepkonga, it is a sweet comeback in a constituency with a history of not reelecting an MP for a second term.
He had been a member of the Parliamentary Service Commission.
Chepkut was known for his smart dressing his wit and his grassroots dancing. He had been personal assistant to former minister Nicholas Biwott. Definitely a member of the old guard.
AHMED ABDULLAHI
Former Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi also bounced back into politics on an ODM ticket after garnering 35,533 votes.
He was closely followed by Jubilee's Hassan Mohammed Adan who got 27,224 votes and former Deputy Governor Ahmed Ali Mukhtar who garnered 21,859 votes.
Abdullahi had served as Wajir governor at the beginning of devolution, from 2013 and 2017.
He lost to Jubilee's Mohamed Abdi Mohamud in the last general election.
Abdullahi was credited with transforming the marginalised border county by initiating major infrastructural projects including the first tarmac road and upgrading of health facilities.
JOSEPH LEKUTON
Former Laisamis MP Joseph Lekuton of UDA made a grand return by winning back the seat in Marsabit after 10 years.
Lekuton defeated seven opponents after garnering 6,157 votes to win the seat. His closest challenger Musa Arbelle got 5,856 votes.
SIMON KACHAPIN
UDA's Simon Kachapin also made a comeback to win the West Pokot governor's seat.
Kachapin was declared the winner after bagging 86,476 votes.
The incumbent, Governor John Lonyangapuo, came second with slightly more than 84,610 votes.
Lonyangapuo was running on a Kenya Union Party (KUP) ticket under Azimio la Umoja.
He was the first governor before he was toppled in 2017 by Lonyangapuo who ran on a Kanu ticket.
Deputy President William Ruto endorsed him.
WAVINYA NDETI
Wiper's Wavinya Ndeti won the Machakos governor's seat by a landslide after twice running unsuccessfully.
Ndeti garnered 226,609 votes in the hotly contested election that attracted five candidates.
Machakos county's returning officer Nelly Illongo declared the former Transport CAS governor-elect at about 2am on Friday.
Ndeti's closest contender, Nzioka Waita of CCU, managed 129,181 votes.
Machakos county has 687,565 registered voters.
FARAH MAALIM
Former Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim has made a comeback after winning the Dadaab MP seat in Garissa.
Maalim, who has been in the political cold for 10 years, won on the Wiper ticket.
He got 12,864 votes, while his closest competitor, Abdikheir Dubow of ODM, garnered 9,740. Ahmed Isaac got 34 votes.
Maalim represented the larger Lagdera constituency from 2007 to 2013.
It was third-time lucky for the former Lagdera MP who in 2013 ran for Senate but lost to Yussuf Haji (deceased).
In 2017 he ran for Garissa Township MP but was defeated by incumbent Aden Duale.
At the time, he claimed the votes were rigged in favour of his opponent and proceeded to court but later withdrew his challenge.
He retreated to family business and was also a part-time political analyst. In 2019 he declared his interest in the Dadaab MP seat.
NATHIF JAMA
Former Governor Nathif Jama of ODM has made a comeback after defeating his arch-rival, Governor Ali Korane of Jubilee.
Jama garnered 69,342 votes.
Korane on Thursday evening conceded defeat even before the results were announced. He won 26,148 votes while Dekow Barrow of UDA collected 13,602.
Korane who had been accused of mismanaging the county and failing to offer crucial services; he was deserted by most of his political allies.
BONI KHALWALE
Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale is back in the Senate after defeating six rivals in the Kakamega.
Khalwale, who ran on a UDA ticket, garnered 249,003 votes against his main competitor, Brian Lishenga, of ODM who bagged 195,192 votes.
Others in the race were Winfred Asiko who got 14,602 votes, Sellah Keya (UDP) came fourth with 11,916 and Patrick Butichi who got 11,881 votes.
(Edited by V. Graham)