The January 23rd and 24th trip by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga to Gusii will have strictly Governors John Nyagarama (Nyamira) and James Ongwae (Kisii) taking charge, it has emerged.
Supremacy battles from certain quarters almost threatened to sabotage the trip with Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said to have been keen to take charge of the event.
But with strict instructions from State House, organisers demanded that the two county chiefs take charge since they are overall heads from the two devolved systems of government.
"It wasn't such a big thing as we are trying to make it sound. There are those who wanted the governors to take charge and others who wanted certain senior individuals like Matiang'i. We were however instructed that we allow governors to take charge,"an MP spoke in confidence.
The Interior minister is trying to assert his authority as de facto leader of the community with sources saying he's preparing to contest for Nyamira gubernatorial seat.
But Borabu MP Ben Momanyi denies a rift between Matiang'i and local leaders, but did not deny a possible fallout over the president's tour among the locals leadership.
"We are united as a team and that's the fact. There could have been a few issues but they were ironed out. All I can tell you is that preparations are now complete, we shall host him."
Dr Matiang'i is one of the proponents of the handshake and has lately avoided majority of local MPs who support DP William Ruto's bid.
Last year, he was involved in a row with Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati over supremacy in the community after the latter positioned himself as the spokesperson of the Abagusii community.
On Friday, close to 15 leaders meet at Governor James Ongwae's house in Kisii where the trip was broadly discuss even though Matiang'i was conspicuously missing.