Jackson Mandago is serving his second and last term as the Uasin Gishu governor. Constitutionally, he is not eligible to vie for the same seat in the 2022 general elections.
What this basically means is that there will be a new governor once Mandago completes his two terms. With 2022 fast approaching, those eyeing to suceed him are definitely strategizing on how to clinch the seat.
There have been several names mentioned as potential successors of governor Mandago but for now, let me focus on individuals who will play a key role in determining who that person will be.
Deputy President William Ruto
DP Ruto will be vying for the top seat in 2022 and he will definity want to have ‘his man’ be his county boss, this being his rural county.
There has always been a narrative in the county that whoever Ruto supports, locals vote against him during the party nominations but this time around, things will be different. The man DP Ruto will throw his weight behind will most likely carry the day and become the second governor of Uasin Gishu.
Jackson Mandago
He will be retiring, unless he decides to vie for another seat in 2022 but whatever political decision he makes about his future is up to him. However, when it comes to his successor, Mandago will play a key role. He will have served as the governor for 10 years and whoever he will support will have an upper hand against other candidates.
Mandago has come out as a fearless leader who speaks his mind, a character that has won him hearts of many voters especially the Kalenjins and whoever he is will say 'anatosha' will be regarded with high esteem among the electorate.
Oscar Sudi
Word has it that the Kapseret Member of Parliament is eyeing to take over from Mandago in 2022. Whether that is true or not, time will tell. But in the event that he opts to defend his seat as the MP, Sudi will have a say on who becomes Uasin Gishu governor given the influence he has to local voters. He is a close ally of governor Mandago so most likely they will be supporting the same candidate in 2022.
Peter Chomba
Those who followed keenly the 2017 gubernatorial contest between governor Mandago and billionaire businessman Zedekiah Bundotich popularly known as Buzeki will agree with me that Peter Chomba cannot be left out of the Uasin Gishu political matrix.
The Huruma Ward Representative single-handedly rallied the Agikuyu community to support Buzeki, during nominations and at the general elections, a move that gave Mandago sleepless nights. Had it not been the last-minute declaration by NASA to support Mandago, Buzeki would have been the governor today, a fact the governor himself attested to after his hard-fought win.
As we head to 2022, Chomba will most likely play centre stage again in the gubernatorial race and whoever he will support will have an edge over other candidates.