Migori Governor Okoth Obado is on his way out of the executive seat as he approaches his retirement in the forthcoming 2022 general elections.
Courtesy of his controversial lifestyle, including his implication in the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno in September, the nation is keenly watching on who will take over from him.
All indicators point at county Senator-elect Ochillo Mbogo Ayacko who recently ascended to the senatorial seat in a stiff race, at a time when Obado was away in remand in Nairobi.
Ayacko unsuccessfully vied for the gubernatorial seat in the 2017 general elections but lost to Obado both in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) primaries and later in the actual election when he vied as an independent candidate.
But having managed to cling on and bounce back to the county leadership after the death of Senator Ben Oluoch Okello, Ayacko is better placed to succeed Obado and has no hurdles with the top seat being his next destination.
He also seems to be enjoying the support of the majority area leaders allied to ODM in the county, hence his direct nomination for the senatorial race and the many regional leaders who walked by him during the campaigns.
This will see him have enough manpower to push his agenda through and will also be beneficial to his campaigns, as opposed to other candidates who might show up in the future.
Ayacko’s bid also saw opposition leader and Luo Nyanza political kingpin Raila Odinga pitch camp in the region for days to campaign for him.
And with most voters in the area considered Raila die-hards, the same must have already earned Ayacko votes ahead of time.
Finally, though he was opposed to Ayacko’s bid from the start, Obado will have no major say on his successor courtesy of his many court cases which have portrayed him as a villain.
His preferred candidate will, therefore, not have any major impact in the race and might actually be considered another troublesome fellow unless he makes a U-turn and endorses Ayacko.