Governors under siege as rivals start early campaigns

Former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi is among the few leaders who have erected billboards with political messages regarding their political plans. [File, Standard] Political storms are brewing in many parts of the country as politicians salivating for seats in the 2027 election, and those hoping to defend their seats, shift to early campaigns more than two years to the next polls. In some places, politicians have already erected billboards to send campaign messages to the public. Those eyeing governor seats are at the forefront in launching early campaigns, putting the incumbents on the defensive. This is happening even as the government drags its feet on the process of reconstituting the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which does not have commissioners. The development mirrors events taking place at the national stage where President William Ruto, ODM leader Raila Odinga and their troops have started preparations for the next election. ODM dilemma Similarly, politicians and activists who want to unseat Ruto have started campaign preparations. Busia Senator Okiyah Omtatah and activists Morara Kebaso have emerged from Gen-Z protests to dash into the presidential contest. The Standard has also established that a row is brewing within ODM ranks over preparations for the 2027 General Election, with claims of a lack of clarity from the party leadership on whether it will field a candidate or back Ruto's re-election bid. In the Mt Kenya region, campaigns are in full swing. Already, Party of National Unity leader, former Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, has announced plans to recapture Meru County Governor's seat from Kawira Mwangaza. Munya was Meru's first Governor from 2013 to 2017. Munya has intensified efforts to build grassroots support for PNU. The former Agriculture CS has been opening PNU offices in various parts of Meru to popularise the outfit and run against Governor Mwangaza and other candidates, including Mithika Linturi, also a former Agriculture CS. "I will vie for Meru governor. I apologize for not running in 2022 because you had expected me to vie. I had different thoughts," he said. Brave face Munya was planning to recapture the seat in 2022 but shelved the idea and opted to support Azimio presidential candidate Raila on the basis that he would retain his Cabinet position if the ODM leader won the presidency. "Meru has got a lot of problems and that was not the wish of the people. We supported Mwangaza but she has not delivered. The people expected development and their wishes have not been fulfilled. That is what we want to correct," Munya said. In the 2022 election, Mwangaza pulled off a surprise in the country when, running as an independent candidate, she beat incumbent Kiraitu and Linturi, the UDA candidate. Linturi, who was dropped from the Cabinet following the June-July youth protests against the Ruto administration, has also declared his candidature. Linturi is among the few leaders who have erected billboards with political messages regarding their political plans. In a Christmas message on a billboard in Meru, Linturi says his candidature is about "Restoring Meru's lost glory together". Mwangaza, however, is putting on a brave face. She has already decamped to UDA and is optimistic of using the party to market her reelection after two years fraught with controversies, including multiple impeachments. She is banking on some of the development projects her administration has been pursuing. Among her flagship projects she is banking on to recapture the seat is the 'Mwangaza Barabarani', the opening and improvement of the road network in the 45 wards, the sinking of tens of boreholes in water-deficient areas, and empowerment of women and other groups in the grassroots. Mwangaza has dismissed Munya's claims that he supported her in 2022, saying he only came on board at the 11th hour. "He did not. He saw I was winning and came onboard the last minute," Mwangaza said. Political analyst Prof Gitile Naituli says politicians should be restrained from early campaigns. "In a normal electoral cycle, there is electioneering period and then there is the period where you are supposed to work in order to deliver your agenda to the people," he said. Oscar Mutugi, another analyst, says recent precedence shows that early campaigns may be beneficial to politicians. "President Ruto has demonstrated that the tactic works, as did Kawira Mwangaza who hit the ground campaigning to be Meru governor right from the minute she was elected as Woman Represantive," Mutugi said. In Nyanza, election drumbeats have started. In Migori, Governor Ochilo Ayacko is facing early competition. MPs Peter Masara (Suna West) and Mark Nyamita (Uriri) are eyeing his seat and have been vocal in criticising his administration. The two have publicly declared their interest in the governor seat. In Kakamega, Senator Boni Khalwale has declared interest in unseating Governor Fernandes Barasa. Barasa has termed Khalwale a selfish leader with no track record to show to the people of Kakamega. Report by Phares Mutembei, Harold Odhiambo and Bernard Lusigi

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