Nominated Members of the County Assembly are now angling for elective positions as they fight to remain in politics after next year's general election.
Multiple interviews with the nominated ward reps showed that they were keen on running for their current positions, with others eyeing senatorial and parliamentary seats.
Nominations are done through political parties - mostly to represent special interests such as youths or persons with disability.
It is, however, an uphill task to be nominated for more than one term, prompting those picked in the current assembly to go for elective positions.
Currently, there are 774 nominated MCAs nationally so that political parties can fulfill the requirements of the two-thirds gender rule.
Parties nominated members according to their performance in the 2013 elections, with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) getting the lion's share.
So far, Margaret Adhiambo Oketch (ODM), the nominated MCA representing persons with disability, and her Ford-Kenya counterpart Rosemary Ogutu, have declared that they will vie for the Alego-Usonga senator and parliamentary seats respectively.
Rose Angule has also declared interest in unseating Elisha Okuku of East Yimbo ward in the next elections.
According to Ms Oketch, who is set to officially launch her campaigns later this month, the current leaders have failed to effectively execute their mandate.
In an interview with The Standard, she appealed to the people of Siaya to elect women to various positions in next year's elections.
GENDER PARITY
She said this would save taxpayers money because it would mean parties would not have to nominate women to ensure gender parity.
"Siaya County currently has a huge wage bill because the county had to nominate 16 women after only one was elected to the county assembly," she said.
Oketch said she believes she has enough ground support to challenge the incumbent, Senator James Orengo.
"As a resident of this county, I declare my interest in the Senate seat because I have so far used my position in the best interests of ordinary citizens. It is my democratic right to vie for any seat and those discouraging me by saying that the seat belongs to certain individuals should watch this space," she said.
Ms Angule, who is a former councillor, is set to face off with more than five aspirants who have declared interest in the seat.
"I thank the ODM party for honouring me with nomination but the time has come for me to go out in the field and fight it out with others. You will make a good decision by voting me in," said Angule during her homecoming party in Usigu.
Ms Ogutu will be facing incumbent MP George Muluan (Wiper Party), who has since declared that he is going to defend his seat.
"We have few elected women leaders in the county and this has given us unfair representation. We would like to have as many women as possible in elective positions," she said.
