With the 2022 polls still three years away, a group of politicians in Kisumu county are already said to be preparing themselves to run for the gubernatorial seat.
The seat is currently being held by Governor Anyang Nyong'o who is serving his first term after beating his predecessor Jack Ranguma in the 2017 polls.
Those who have already hinted at running for the seat in the much-awaited contest include senator Fred Outa, who has with time turned into Nyong'os leading critic.
Though he rode on Outa's backing in the 2017 polls, the leaders have since fallen out, with the senator repeatedly bashing and questioning Nyong'o's leadership lately.
Also expected to join the contest with time is Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch, who is currently serving his third term on the Ford Kenya party ticket.
Former Kisumu Central lawmaker and Chief Administrative Secretary for Regional Government Ken Obura has also hinted at going for the same seat.
Though Outa has been openly declaring his intentions, Obura and Olago have insisted that they will remain silent until 2021.
This comes at a time when the region's dominant Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leadership has called for political calm, urging aspirants to wait for the right time.
''We want aspirants to hold their horse. Time is not yet up. Let them wait for 2022,'' county ODM coordinator and former Muhoroni MP Ayiecho Olweny told the Standard on Monday.
The governor has not announced if he will be seeking to defend his seat, while Ranguma is equally silent on whether or not he will be trying to recapture the seat.