Since independence, all presidents have had an interest in Gusii region given the strategic contributions it plays both in voting and in governance.
Currently, the region has at least one million voters spread across the country, a reason that explains DP William Ruto and Raila Odinga's close interest.
While Ruto has marked the region as swing, Mr Odinga believes the area is his traditional stronghold given his previous performance during polls.
During retired President Daniel Moi's regime, the nonagenarian trusted a number of leaders who he hooked to government as a way of keeping the region solidly behind him.
Dr Lawrence Sagini, Kenya's first education minister was Moi's confidant. Even though he lost Kitutu West seat in 1969, he kept on being nominated to Parliament until his death in 1995.
For Dr Zachary Onyonka, the man who beat Sagini, being in government was like his second home. He served both in Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi government.
An American educated politician, Onyonka, the father to Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka, became the first MP to win polls while in jail.
Throughout his stay in government as a civil servant and later a politician, Simeon Nyachae became one of Moi's trusted lieutenant. He served as Head of Civil Service.
After civil service, he joined politics in 1992, winning Nyaribari seat. He contested for Presidency in 2002 upon Moi's exit and became third in the polls.
Prof Sam Ongeri was one of renowned KANU men. The medical doctor served as Moi's trusted confidant. For many years, he hosted Moi at his Omoyo home.
The list cannot be complete without former youth leader Geoffrey Asanyo. Although he grew up in Nakuru, Asanyo's political base was in Kisii.
With the trust Moi had in him, he was recruited to infamous YK92 which produced the likes of Dr William Ruto and Cyrus Jirongo.
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