Nairobi governor-elect Mike Sonko [PHOTO/standardmedia.co.ke]
Six former senators have beaten their governors and taken over office at their respective county top offices.
Mike Sonko (Nairobi), Kiraitu Murungi (Meru), Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Stephen Sang (Nandi), John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot) and Mohammed Kuti (Isiolo) have all beaten their former bosses to the seat.
They were among the 14 former senators who made the bold move to challenge the county presidents.
The following are their profile summaries:
1. Mike Sonko Nairobi
His greatest promise was to correct the mess by Governor Evans Kidero.
He has already started working and has initiated city cleaning programmes even before he is officially sworn in.But how will he deal with the traffic mess? Eyes are on him to see how he will also solve the crime ghosts in the city.
2. Kiraitu Murungi of Meru County
He fought hard to oust his law student and former political protege Peter Munya.
The 65-year-old was on the verge of his political career and should he have lost, his entire career would have come crumbling down for good.
Opinion polls always said he would lose.
4. John Lonyangapuo of West Pokot
He did not have the best relationship with his governor Simon Kipchapin.
Among the greatest promises was the vow to fight for peace between West Pokot and her neighbouring counties.“I want to build peace between residents of West Pokot and neighbouring counties because no development can take place without harmony,” Prof Lonyangapuo says.“My people are determined to have a better life and we need to harness our resources towards improving lives,” he says.
4. Anyang’ Nyong’o of Kisumu
Nyong'o fought a strong opposition from former governor Jack Ranguma. Even after beating Ranguma in the ODM primaries, the later continued to stage a strong battle as an independent and as late as August 8, it was not yet clear where the poll would go.
Anyang' Nyong’o chaired the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Investment and was deputised by Lonyangapuo.
He was quoted as championing for gender equity in his government.
“I will also ensure that there is gender parity in appointments of all county jobs and boards as is stipulated in the Constitution.’’
5. Mohamed Kuti of Isiolo
He is one of the only two governors who got elected without a party.
Having won as an independent, Kuti takes over an Isiolo that is dogged by cattle rustling, tribal clashes, and perennial droughts.
He has vowed to establish the tourism sector in his county.
‘’I pledge to create 2,000 jobs annually outside the direct employment at the county government through economic reconstruction,’’ he says.
6. Stephen Sang of NandiHe was the youngest elected senator (28 years) in 2013. He now is the youngest governor.
Sang was instrumental in the County Development Board Bill (2014) which sought to have senators lead the development committees in their respective counties.
Even though the Bill was assented to by President Uhuru Kenyatta, governors later challenged it in court and won.