On Thursday, President Uhuru Kenyatta caught his audience in surprise when he said his 2022 choice for State House could 'shock them'.
A rather furious Uhuru also warned local leaders from persistent 'loitering and politicking', adding that his silence should not be taken for granted.
"Don't take my silence for granted. When that time comes, I will say my choice and it will shock you. You either stop loitering or I deal with you," he said.
His statement came amid deteriorating relationship with his deputy, even as the duo maintains that all is well.
Political analyst Steve Ogolla says the president's utterances should not be taken lightly, adding that he's likely to make a different person as his successor other than his deputy William Ruto.
"A president cannot say such things if it's not in his plans. It seems the partnership with Ruto is over," he says.
According to him, ODM leader Raila Odinga could make it to Uhuru's favourite list. While the two have hard a shaky past, they have recently worked together with Uhuru even influencing Raila's appointment to AU as special envoy.
Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, who is lately spreading wings across the country could fall in Uhuru's matrix. The two have a long history, with Moi's father, Daniel Moi, playing a key role in bringing Uhuru into national politics.
Former Vice Presidents Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi, Ogolla adds, could also find their way as preferred candidates given their good working relationship with both Uhuru and Raila.
Mudavadi, who deputised Uhuru's 2002 outing, could almost land the latter's backing in 2012, only things to change in dying months to 2013 polls.
But more importantly, Uhuru, unlike his predecessor Mwai Kibaki, insisted that he will play a role in determining the next occupant of State House.
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