William Ruto(UDA) Raila Odinga(ODM) Kalonzo Musyoka(Wiper) and Musalia Mudavadi(ANC) will be facing party nomination headaches as their close allies seek their endorsements in 2022.
The party leaders will surely be torn between rewarding loyalty and getting influential politicians ahead of the mouthwatering 2022 General Election where regional political kingpins are very crucial.
In Mombasa County, Suleiman Shabhal and Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff are looking forward to Raila Odinga’s endorsement to succeed retiring Governor Hassan Joho.
This poses a nomination headache for Raila, as he will be torn between supporting Shabhal, who recently ditched Jubilee Party, and rewarding Abdulswamad Shariff’s loyalty to ODM.
“I appreciate my son Abduswamab Sharrif as the MP for Mvita. But the issue of the governor is yours (people of Mombasa). As the ODM leader, I want to say that we will have nominations that are free and fair,” Raila Odinga told Mombasa residents.
In Siaya County, Raila Odinga is faced with a dilemma as Senator James Orengo, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo and former auditor General Edward Ouko are embroiled in Governor Cornel Rasanga’s succession battle.
Raila Odinga is also faced with a nomination headache in Homabay County where former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, area Woman Rep Gladys Wanga, and Suba North MP John Mbadi are seeking to succeed Governor Cyprian Awiti.
In Rift Valley, DP William Ruto has a looming party nomination headache as his allies Henry Rotich (the former Treasury Cabinet Secretary) and Soy MP Caleb Kositany are fighting to succeed Governor Jackson Mandago.
And in the neighboring Nandi County, Ruto is faced with a similar dilemma as lawyer Allan Kosgey, who is the son of former Cabinet minister Henry Koskey, former governor Cleophas Lang’at and area Senator Samson Cherargei are seeking to get his support for the big seat.
Elsewhere, in Ukambani region Wavinya Ndeti will be fighting out with Mavoko MP Patrick Makau and County Assembly Speaker Florence Mwangangi for the Machakos governorship and are counting on Kalonzo’s endorsement.
Kalonzo is also looked upon in Makueni County as Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior and Philip Kaloki are eying the Wiper ticket for the gubernetorial seat.
Kitui County is also a battlefield as Senator Enoch Wambua, former governor Julius Malombe look up to Kalonzo to oust Charity Ngilu.
For Musalia Mudavadi, his biggest dilemma is in Kakamega County where Senator Cleophas Malalah, Lugari MP Ayub Savula, and former Cabinet minister Amukowa Anangwe will be battling for the governorship.
The ANC party leader is also facing a nomination headache in Vihiga where Senator George Khaniri and Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi seek to unseat Wilber Otichilo.
