When Senator Peter Anyang' Nyong'o declared his interest to run for Kisumu Governor seat, his backers were excited saying that he was the right man to steer the county to new heights.
After all, he is one of the most accomplished politicians and scholars in the country.
In the August 2017, he was overwhelmingly elected the second Governor of the third largest city in Kenya, sending home incumbent Jack Ranguma.
It was a new dawn for the lake city.
But six months later, bitter political rivalries in the county are threatening to handicap Prof. Nyong'o from delivery.
And at the center of the unending political battles is Nyong'o's own political buddy, Senator Fred Outa.
When Nyong'o was out of the country for two months, the political differences in the county reached new heights.
The county political leadership was tearing apart. And February was the most eventful month.
Outa was shouted down in a funeral of the late Pentecostal Bishop in Nyando.
His main tormentor was Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor.
Then Nyong'o's own deputy Mathews Owili had a day to forget as he was accused of abetting corruption by awarding tenders irregularly.
And his main critic was County Assembly Speaker Onyango Oloo, a key figure in the county leadership.
Then when Nyong'o was returning to the country from the US, politicians used the homecoming party to flex their political muscles.
Outa was at it again but this time around, he was chased away by angry youths.
Going by all these happenings, Prof. Nyong'o will have a daunting task to deliver on his manifesto.
His first major task, for now, will be to reconcile the political leadership in the country lest the residents turn against him.