The clock is ticking and Kisii County political heavyweights Governor James Ongwae and Senator Chris Obure are flexing their political muscles ahead of a major showdown in the vote-rich county.
Both the leaders were elected on an ODM ticket in 2013. However, the Senator has switched his allegiance to Jubilee Party in a region that overwhelmingly voted for the opposition.
Obure has been in the political space for over three decades now while Ongwae is a newcomer but with a huge support for Raila Odinga in 2013. So is Obure the man to finally deliver the Kisii votes to President Kenyatta?
The perception that the closeness of the Governor to Raila Odinga could have worked against Obure in the race for the party's ticket made the later decamp to Jubilee Party.
Ongwae is banking on his development record in the last four years as the Governor to springboard his political ambitions.However, to his rival, the incumbent has done little for the county since hia election in 2013.
On the Jubilee side is also Deputy Governor Joash Maangi who is among the key party disciples in the region and the Obure faction believes that it may tilt the scales in their favor.
However, Jubilee is facing an acid test in the region with some of their key figures like Prof Sam Ongeri decamping to ODM amid concerns of a hostile ground.
As to who between Ongwae and Obure will carry the day remains to be seen. But Jubilee will have to draft strategies to eclipse their rivals with the political ambers expected to flare in the region.