Titanic rivalry in three Rift Valley counties ahead of August 8 poll

Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua joins other leaders in a traditional dance during a community gathering and prayer day for members of the Maasai community at Namucha in Mai Mahiu, Naivasha.  Photo By Antony Gitonga

Seasoned politicians and new entrants are laying the groundwork for what promises to be big political contests for the elective positions in three key Rift Valley counties.

Intense rivalry is already playing out in Narok, Nakuru and Bomet counties even as the clock ticks towards the August 8 polls.

In Nakuru, Governor Kinuthia Mbugua and his arch-rival Lee Kinyanjui are leaving nothing to chance. Their rivalry played out at a recent meeting to mobilise and sensitise residents to register as voters in the ongoing exercise.

Mr Kinyanjui took a swipe at the Mbugua administration over the water crisis in the county, which he claimed had undermined the voter registration since residents are spending more time in search of the commodity.

The two do not see eye to eye ever since Kinyanjui quit his position as the chairman National Transport and Safety Authority and declared his intention to vie for the gubernatorial seat.

Kinyanjui has been riding on what he terms as ‘poor performance’ of the Mbugua administration, alleging corruption at the county and nepotism, which he accuses Mbugua of perpetrating.

But the entrance of Senator James Mungai and former Nacada chairman John Mututho in the race cannot be underestimated.

And stakes are also high in the Bomet gubernatorial race where five candidates have declared interest to unseat Isaac Ruto.

Aspirants eyeing the Jubilee Party ticket include National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso and former Konoin MP Julius Kones.

Others in the race for Jubilee ticket are Bomet Deputy Governor Stephen Mutai and former Local Government Permanent Secretary Sammy Kirui. However, the contest between Laboso and Kones has overshadowed the other candidates in the race.

Governor Ruto has defied Jubilee and formed his own party, saying he is determined to retain the seat and prove those using the political waves to fight him.

Laboso has anchored her campaigns on development, coexistence and tolerance saying the county has suffered enough of embarrassment and intolerance fuelled by Governor Ruto. The former Council of Governors chairman is campaign on the platform of failed promises by Jubilee.

Ruto is also using his new political outfit to try and form a new centre of power for the community, accusing Deputy President William Ruto of neglecting their interests and channelling his energy towards his 2022 ambition.

Both Kones and Laboso have, however, vowed to support whoever wins the nomination to be able to stop Governor Ruto from retaining the seat come August polls.

In Narok, it is a cut-throat competition for the gubernatorial seat where the incumbent Samuel Tunai and his key rival legislator Patrick ole Ntutu (Narok West) will fight it out for the Jubilee Party ticket.

The MP, who was among the five county legislators who held mega demonstrations criticising Tunai’s governance, has vowed to fight till the end within the party despite his dissatisfaction in the manner the recent interim party officials were elected.

Ntutu, who hails from the populous Ilpurko clan, will be banking on the large numbers of his clan as well as marshalling for the minority Kipsigis community to clinch the slot.

On the other hand, Tunai who comes from the minority Siria community enjoys support from other minority communities such as Ildamat, Kekonyokie in Narok East as well as Uasin Gishu and Moitanik clans in his Kilgoris backyard.

Tunai will also be seeking support from the Kipsigis community living in Narok West, South and Emurrua Dikirr through his Kipsigis Deputy Governor Everlyn Aruasa.

According to those close to the governor, he says he will clinch the Jubilee ticket courtesy of his development record as well as his ability to unite all the communities.

“It will be an easy sailing for the governor. Since his election, he has brought peace, he has transformed the county and I believe this will make him clinch Jubilee ticket and win against ODM candidate,” said County Assembly Majority Leader Wilson Masikonde.

Governor Tunai is also expected to use his closeness with DP Ruto to get the vital Kalenjin vote in the area.

Another hotly contested seat in Nakuru County will be the senatorial post.

The seat has attracted the likes of veteran politician Koigi Wa Wamwere, Nakuru County Speaker Susan Kihika, prominent city lawyer Karanja Kabage and Engineer Jack Waihenya.

Ms Kihika’s entry into the race has caused excitement among her supporters who have been referring her as ‘Madam senator’ ever since she declared her interest for the seat last February.

She has managed to sustain an online campaign through forming WhatsApp groups, on Face Book and Twitter, mostly targetting the youth and women voters.

Kihika relies on her performance as Speaker of the County Assembly, her family ties that cuts across the county and in the neighbouring Laikipia County.

She is one of the daughters of the late veteran politician Dixon Kihika Kimani who is credited for the resettlement of thousands of people in Nakuru and Laikipia counties in the post-colonial era.

Mr Kabage is a veteran lawyer who is not new to politics. He contested the Molo parliamentary seat in 2007 but lost.

In 2013, he shifted his political base to Njoro constituency where he lost to John Kiuna, the current legislator.

Kabage is known for his ‘well-oiled campaign machinery and has been reaching out to sitting MPs and a number of other aspiring candidates for various seats to support his Senate bid.

Mr Koigi has been using his radio station to reach out to voters and sell his policies.

He relies on his experience as a politician and has activated his political connections across the county.

—Report by Steve Mkawale, Gilbert Kimutai and Robert Kiplagat