Many Kenyans think that the presidency is the most wanted seat.
However, the Nairobi governor seat has attracted a total of six aspirants, four from the ruling coalition, one from the opposition and one independent candidate.
It is the country's most wanted seat so far.
The ruling Jubilee coalition has found itself in a great dilemma on whom to endorse for the Nairobi governorship after it appeared that some of the leaders are divided on whom to hand over the ticket to.
Five aspirants have fronted their ambitions to unseat the incumbent ODM governor, Evans Kidero. The aspirants include TNA national chairman, Johnson Sakaja, Nairobi senator Gideon Mbuvi Sonko, Dagoretti South MP, Dennis Waweru, Water and Irrigation cabinet secretary, Eugene Wamalwa and former Starehe MP, Bishop Margret Wanjiru.
Bearing in mind that all are close aides of President Uhuru Kenyatta, none of the aspirants is willing to shelve their ambitions to prevent the occurrence of split votes come 2017. Apparently, their billboards are already in Nairobi CBD showing they have already started an early campaign.
The flamboyant senator, Sonko and a great defender of the Jubilee government was among the first aspirants to front his ambitions. His closeness and frequent handouts to his electorate are likely to give him an upper hand in campaigns. The senator, who won by a big margin against his challenger, Bishop Wanjiru, received more than 800,000 votes which showed that he was voted more than the governor who garnered 623 854 votes in 2013 election.
Sonko's academic credentials have, however, been challenged by his opponents who challenge his eloquence in English although he graduated from Kenya Methodist University in 2014. His style of leadership has been questioned and his infights with Governor Kidero have not helped better the situation.
Sakaja is seen to enjoy an overwhelming support from the presidency for being one the founders of the President's party. Political commentators say he should be given a direct nomination since he has been a close ally and a defender of the party who worked tirelessly to popularise the party which was formed barely six months to the last general election. The party emerged top after the elections and scooped the most elective positions followed by ODM, URP and Wiper parties.
Wamalwa was endorsed overwhelmingly on Sunday by former gubernatorial aspirants and Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu, MPs Kanini Kega (Kieni), Jude Njomo (Kiambu Town) and Mpuru Mburi (Tigania East). However, their support was criticised by Starehe MP, Maina Kamanda saying that the leaders from Nairobi will give their best candidate and asked the 'outsiders' not to impose their preferred candidate. Being the former Ford People party leader which has since folded to join the Jubilee Party (JP) has led a considerable delegation to the ruling coalition which has increased its support from the western region.
Margret Wanjiru ditched ODM in 2014 for Jubilee saying there was no fairness due to the direct nomination was given to Kidero making her be given the senator's slot which she says led to her downfall. She led a wide delegation from Nairobi leadership to Jubilee from Cord including Mathare MP, Francis Kariuki. She expects fairness in the Jubilee primaries to salvage his political future.
The first time Dagoretti South MP and the chairman of the Mt Kenya MPs caucus, Dennis Waweru is being termed 'political youngster' by political analysts have asked him to shelve his ambitions and support someone else and maybe vie in the future. The keen advocate has however said he will give the other aspirants a run for their money.
The Deputy President is on record saying that in the next general election Jubilee must win the Nairobi gubernatorial which has since been seen to be a hot contest. It is now the mandate of the ruling coalition to ensure a free, fair and transparent nomination exercise to avoid the happenings of 2013 when Ferdinand Waititu and Jimna Mbaru ran parallel to one another where they both lost to governor Kidero. Kieni MP has said the must put their house in order in mend the cracks that led to 2013 failures.
However, Cord has only attracted one aspirant, the incumbent Kidero from ODM party. He has been implicated in various scandals from Nairobi and also linked to the downfall of Mumias sugar.
Former Prime Minister's adviser, Miguna Miguna is also in the contest but on an independent candidature. Miguna, a Kisumu born and a lawyer fell out with Raila and became his closest critique and scandals contained in his book 'Peeling back the Mask'. He says he enjoys support from a section of Cord and Jubilee leaders and is not willing to join the coalitions hence opting to vie on an independent ticket.