Kajiado Governor joins race to replace Waiguru at CoG

Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku addresses at a past press conference. [File, Standard]

The race to succeed Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru as the chairperson of the Council of Governors ( COG) has kicked off with three candidates declaring interest in the seat.

Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku is the latest entrant. He will battle it out with CoG vice chair Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir) and Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga for the seat.

This will be Lenku’s second stab at the position, having declared interest in it in 2022 but dropped at the last minute to give Waiguru a chance to become the first woman chair of the governor’s lobby.

“I submitted my nomination papers to the CoG secretariat on Tuesday and I am determined to finish the race from where I left it two years ago to give my sister the chance to become the first female occupier of the seat,” said Lenku.

He added that the last polls, which were determined through consensus, happened just after the General Election and concessions had to be made between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja Coalition, which were smarting from an acrimonious General Election.

“We normally adopt consensus because it is a voluntary job that requires total cooperation from all members. We make decisions as brothers and sister without active political considerations,” Lenku told the Standard.

In the last elections that were held in Mombasa, Lenku was fronted by the Azimio coalition while Waiguru was pushed by the Kenya Kwanza leadership led by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

This time round, Gachagua has fronted his strong ally, Kahiga of Nyeri.

A Kahiga win would mean both of them will play a key role in devolution together as the DP chairs the strategic Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC).

Sources within the ODM leadership said Governor Lenku had discussed his CoG bid with party leader Raila Odinga and got his nod to go for the seat.

It will be interesting to see how the polls slated for October 7 will pan out in the era of the Broad-Based Government crafted by President William Ruto and Raila.