The gear for the 2022 general elections has been ignited and leaders eyeing for key posts after the poll have already begun outdoing one another.
Going by the current political tide, the possibility of President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga seem to have passed and the two may actually form the 2022-2027 government.
Raila has been in the opposition for quite a long time and Kenyans are pondering on who will fit into his shoes when he joins the government.
Likely successors;
1. William Ruto
Ruto is an outspoken politician with a 'vocal' record having worked partly in the opposition especially after the disputed 2007 general election in which he was in Raila's camp. He insists he will be on the ballot in 2022 and just in case the Uhuru-Raila pair carries the day, the former Eldoret North MP will have no option but to lead the opposition.
He is in Jubilee which plans to work with Raila and this would mean if he runs for the top seat he will have to form a new political party to enable him contest for the presidency. He has what it takes to marshal as many seats as possible in Parliament to enable him become the official opposition leader.
2. Musalia Mudavadi
The ANC leader ever since Raila met Uhuru at Harambee House for the famous 'golden handshake' has defiantly been speaking ill of Raila and his NASA allies. There are plans to amend the 2010 Constitution through a referendum aimed at creating more positions in government- prime minister and deputy prime minister.
If Mudavadi does not join the Uhuru-Raila camp and decides to run for presidency on his own and Ruto ascends to government - most likely as prime minister - then Mudavadi will have no choice but embrace the official opposition leader post. His party, the ANC has the capacity to gunner more seats both in the lower House as well as the Senate.
Other leaders who have indicated they will vie for the presidency and whose chances of winning the elections are slim include Governors Dr Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Kakamega's Wycliffe Oparanya. Losing in the 2022 election would qualify one as an opposition leader candidate.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula equally stands chance of becoming opposition chief after 2022. Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka is drumming up for the referendum and may end up clinching a post in the government.