First time governors on the edge as one-term euphoria rock counties

Some are now clinging to hope that their support for President William Ruto’s reelection will translate to their own wins.Observers believe the situation is more complicated for governors who relied on the late ODM leader Raila Odinga’s political clout for survival.

When they walked into office in 2022 armed with blistering manifestos, vigour of a political freshling, and some backed by the influential hand of their political godfathers, many Kenyans were waiting to see how the new crop of first-term governors would manage counties.