List of senators angling for governor seats in 2022

The 2022 General Election maybe about 17 months away, but campaigns are already heating up in various counties as jostling for positions is fast shaping up.

A silent wave of early campaigns is slowly but surely sweeping through the devolved units, with more than a dozen senators who have increasingly shown interest in gubernatorial seats.

The lawmakers have already started to traverse various counties to popularise their candidature.

At least 22 senators have declared their intentions to either dislodge governors currently serving their first terms or succeed those serving their second and final terms.

There are 26 county chiefs serving their first terms, while 21 others are running their second term and final laps in the influential posts.

Among those winding up their terms and have declared interest to vie for either Presidency, Senatorial or constituency seats are Governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni), Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Muranga’s Mwangi wa Iria.

Others are Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Salim Mvurya (Kwale), James Ongwae (Kisii), Cyprian Awiti (Homabay), Okoth Obado (Migori), Josephat Nanok (Turkana), and Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) among others.

Fierce battles ahead 

But in what appears to be a build-up of fierce political battles ahead of the 2022 General Election, various senators are aligning themselves with leading political parties, alliances and top presidential contenders in their bid to capture the powerful county positions.

Kakamega, Narok, Kwale, Muranga, Uashi Gishu Kitui, Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa, Homabay and Siaya are some of the counties that have seen such interest escalate in the last few months, promising to be a hotly contested duel.

In Nakuru, Vihiga, Kisumu, Kirinyaga, Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, Nyeri, Nandi, and Kiambu are also some of the counties whose senators are increasingly showing interest that they will be challenging their respective governor’s for the county top seat.

Senators Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Kindiki Kithure (Tharaka-Nithi), Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu), Fred Outa (Kisumu), Charles Kibiru (Kirinyaga), Ephraim Maina (Nyeri) are said to be rolling up their sleeves to face with their county chiefs, who are serving their first time in office

However, Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), Irungu Kang’ata (Muranga), Ledama ole Kina (Narok), Okong’o Omogeni (Nyamira), Mutula Kilonzo (Makueni), Sam Ongeri (Kisii), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), and Ltumbesi Lelegwe (Samburu) will have an easy ride home as their county bosses are serving their last and final term in office.

Too early to disclose

More are eyeing the positions but do not want to go on record, saying it was too early to disclose their intentions to their competitors.

“For now am comfortable serving people of Kirinyaga and indeed Kenyans as a Senator...given a chance I would seek second term...there is a lot to learn and I have learned a lot,” Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru, who said to be  considering joining the Kirinyaga  gubernatorial race.

In Kakamega County, daggers have already been drawn as race to succeed Governor Wycliffe Oparanya shapes up ahead of 2022 polls.

Senator Malalah, who is aligned to One Kenya Alliance and a close ally of ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, will be squaring it out in the crowded race to succeed Oparanya with Deputy Governor  Prof. Philip Kutima, former Senator Boni Khalwale, former Butere MP Amukowa Anangwe and Lugari MP Ayub Savula.

Others are County Assembly Clerk Laban Atemba and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) chief executive officer Fernandes Barasa, Michael Osundwa, Leonard Shimaka and Sammy Omukoko.

In an interview with People Daily on Thursday, Malalah defended his candidature saying having been elected as a member of county assembly in 2013 and subsequently as a Senator 2017, he has grasped and internalised the challenges facing devolution.

“I believe, I am better placed in conceptualising a lasting solution for the people of Kakamega,” the senator, who was recently axed as Senate Deputy Minority Leader said.

“My focal attention will be to initiate economic stimulus projects that will improve the livelihood of the people of Kakamega,” he added.

According to him, most of the current county chiefs have concentrated on “brick and mortar” development and forgotten to pump money into the pockets of the citizenry.

In Nakuru county, Susan Kihika is spoiling for a fight with Governor Lee Kinyanjui, who determined to complete his second and final term.

Close Ruto ally

Kihika, who is affiliated to Tangatanga faction of Jubilee Party and a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto, is on record saying she would vie for the Nakuru governor’s seat.

Kihika is upbeat about her quest to become the first woman governor of Nakuru and she has been busy mobilizing her supporters and selling the newly formed United Democratic Alliance.

While, Governor Kinyanjui is already aligning himself with the Handshake team that is pushing for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2020.

Governor and Senator Kihika recently faced off during London ward representative mini-polls in which UDA’s Anthony Nzuki won.

“I am definitely going for the gubernatorial seat and I am prepared for the challenge, it has been done before and am sure it is possible in 2022,” Kihika, who was de-whipped recently as Senate Majority Leader told People Daily.

In Kitui, the battle between Senator Enock Wambua and governor Charity Ngilu has heightened with the former insisting that he is only responding to the “cries of the electorate” which is tired with the leadership of the latter.

The Senator went on to state : “So the talk is not idle. It has been said in very many fora that if I run for governor I would present an existential political nightmare to Governor Ngilu.”

Wambua says Ngilu’s best days in politics are over and that the earlier she starts packing her belongings from the office the better for her as it would save her from going through a disgraceful exit.

Wambua, a close ally of Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and a leading figure in the One Kenya alliance, has vowed not to be swayed by the governor’s critics but protect the interests of the people and the county government saying his oversight role had nothing to do with 2022 elections.