The race to succeed Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga in 2022 may prove to be one of the fiercest political contests in the county which is NASA leader Raila Odinga's home.
With area Senator James Orengo said to be patiently waiting in the wings to take over from the retiring Rasanga, it will however not be an easy ride for him as he may face stiff opposition.
The Senate Minority leader is an all-time favourite to clinch the seat, at least on paper. But being Siaya, the land of astute politicians in the entire Nyanza region, anything can spoil his party.
Businessman William Oduol may prove to be Orengo's nightmare. Now a mature politician, Oduol challenged Rasanga in 2013 as an independent candidate and the ODM candidate survived by a whisker.
He successfully challenged Rasanga's election but fell shot of unseating him in the subsequent by-election.
He rejoined ODM in the run to the 2017 nominations but lost to Rasanga. He later opted out of the race as an independent candidate and supported the incumbent with a promise that he would be backed in 2022. Will the deal hold water? Time will tell.
Then there is Nicholas Gumbo. The former Rarieda MP lost to Rasanga in 2017. But boasting an impressive development record during his tenure, the former Parliamentary PAC chair may try to make a comeback in 2022.
With the Uhuru-Raila handshake changing Nyanza politics, is it the right time for Jubilee Secretary General Raphael to finally contest a political seat in his rural county? For if he does, he might give his opponents a run for their money.
Whatever happens, the 2022 Siaya gugubernatorial race will be a tough contest to call.