Possible names to vie for county seats being floated

As the clamour for representation in the devolved government starts taking shape, Nakuru county will be one of the hotly contested regions.

Hopefuls for the various seats are already bracing themselves for a gruelling battle ahead of the next General Election.

The county covers six constituencies, namely Nakuru Town represented by Mr Lee Kinyanjui, Molo (Joseph Kiuna), Naivasha (John Mututho), Rongai (Luka Kigen), Kuresoi (Zakayo Cheruiyot) and Subukia (Nelson Gaichuhie). Only a few politicians have stated publicly their intention to vie for county seats.

However, one of the politicians who has been named for the Nakuru governorship is former Molo MP Njenga Mungai. He was proposed by the Molo Council of Elders. Other names being floated for the governorship include Narc Kenya activist Onesmus Ngunjiri and former Subukia MP Koigi wa Wamwere.

The Sunday Nation could not reach Mr Ngunjiri to state his position. But Mr Wamwere said he is yet to make a decision adding that there are people who had approached him to consider vying for the seat of senator.

Meanwhile, the race for top political seats in Narok county is off to an early start, with each camp keeping their strategies close to their chests. Current MPs from the county – William ole Ntimama, Nkoidila ole Lankas and Gideon ole Konchella – have remained guarded as to what positions they will be going for.

But their aides are sending out possible line-ups. “Heritage minister William ole Ntimama is going for the Senate while former Narok county council senior warden Michael Koikai, former Narok county council chairman Senteu Ntoross alongside Kilgoris politicians Samuel Tunai and Daniel Taleng’o Kiptunen are going for the governorship,” said Narok-based lawyer Charles ole Sena who is eyeing the post of county speaker.

Nominated councillor Lydia Masikonde is said to be eyeing the county women’s representative. Elsewhere, the recent referendum campaigns spearheaded by Internal Security PS Francis Kimemia across the vast Nyandarua county seem to have left tongues wagging on his intentions for 2012.

Community leaders who held a secret meeting at Ol Kalou township floated his name as a possible aspirant for the governor’s seat although he remains tight-lipped over his intentions, only saying that the campaign was a government project to see the new Constitution passed.

Former Nyandarua county council chairman and Gathanje Ward councillor John Mburu Matheri hinted that the meetings had also floated the names of former MPs Muriuki Karue and Waithaka Mwangi for the senator’s seat.

Transport minister Amos Kimunya has declined to state clearly which position he would go for, but remains a favourite candidate for governorship. Sisi kwa Sisi MP David Ngugi (Kinangop), Mr Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa) and Mr Erastus Mureithi (Ol Kalou) have also remained mum on the issue.

Reports by Simon Siele, Julius Sigei, James Kariuki and George Sayagie