As was the case in previous elections, the Kenyatta, Moi and Odinga families featured prominently in the August 8 General Election.
Members of other families that have featured in the country’s political scene for decades also ran for various elective positions.
It was mixed fortunes for players in the elections. Just like 2013, the sons of former President Moi bagged two seats. Gideon Moi retained the Baringo Senate seat and Raymond Kipruto Moi was re-elected in Rongai Constituency.
Gideon, the Kanu national chairman, and his brother went against the Jubilee Party wave in Rift Valley.
But it was doom and gloom for the Odinga family. Raila Odinga is still contesting the results of the presidential election at the Supreme Court while Oburu Oginga was defeated during the ODM nominations in Bondo Constituency.
In Gem Constituency, immediate former MP Jakoyo Midiwo, a relative of the Odingas, also lost in the ODM nominations.
Ruth Odinga was Governor Jack Ranguma’s deputy in Kisumu, and the latter was beaten by Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o.
Political calculations for the family also failed after Rosemary Odinga, Raila’s daughter, shelved plans to vie for the Kibra parliamentary seat due to poor health.
Despite the good performance by President Uhuru Kenyatta in the polls, the same cannot be said of his kin. Wanjiku Muhoho, also his relative, unsuccessfully contested the Nyandarua Women’s Representative seat as an independent after failing to clinch the Jubilee Party ticket.
Defend power
Annah Nyokabi Gathecha, another relative of the Head of State who was the Kiambu Women’s Representative also lost in the Jubilee nominations to Gathoni Muchomba who was subsequently elected as the Kiambu Women’s Representative.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and his brother Westlands MP Timothy Wanyonyi successfully defended their seats.
Former Ombudsman Otiende Amolo’s first attempt in elective politics saw him elected Rarieda MP. His elder sister, nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro was however unlucky after she was defeated by Ruaraka MP T J Kajwang.
Violent clashes between supporters of Mr Kajwang and Ms Ongoro during nominations forced ODM to bar her from participating in the party primaries. She defected to ANC.
Moses Kajwang, a brother to TJ Kajwang was re-elected as the Homa Bay Senator, a seat he won in November 2014 after the death of their elder brother Gerald Otieno Kajwang.
Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, was overwhelmingly re-elected by Makueni County residents. He initially won the seat after the death of his father Mutula Kilonzo Snr in 2013.
Down at the Coast, it was sweet victory for the family of Magarini MP-elect Michael Kingi of ODM who trounced Harry Kombe of Jubilee. Michael is the younger brother of area Governor Amason Kingi.
Political dynasties whose members lost include that of former Cabinet Minister William Ntimama, whose daughter Lydia, failed in her second attempt to clinch the Narok Women’s Representative seat.
In the same county, for the first time, the prominent family of ex-senior chief Lerionka ole Ntutu will not have a representative in the elective politics.
The ex-senior chief’s son former Narok West MP Patrick Ntutu lost the bid to unseat Governor Samuel Tunai. Patrick’s elder brother, Stephen ole Ntutu, decided not to defend his senatorial post.
An attempt by journalist David Makali to send Senator Wetang’ula packing in Bungoma did not bear fruit. His younger brother John Makali, was was the Bungoma County Speaker also failed to dislodge Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi.
Voters in Vihiga County also decided to send home the Governor Moses Akaranga, alongside his step-sister, Dorcus Kegode, who was the area Women’s Representative. Kegode of ODM lost the Vihiga MP race to newcomer Ernest Kivai of ANC.
In the North Rift, Alex Kosgey, will continue to fly the flag of the the former Cabinet Minister Henry Kosgey after he was re-elected as the Engwen MP.
The former Industrialisation Minister failed to clinch the Jubilee ticket for the Nandi County gubernatorial seat while his son Allan Kosgey lost in the party primaries for Kesses Constituency.
