Turkana Governor and Chairman of the Council of Governors. [Photo/the-star.coke]
The power struggle between President Uhuru allies and Deputy President William Ruto helped Governor Josphat Nanok retain his position in the Council of Governors, it can be revealed.It had been widely expected that Kwale Senator Salim Mvurya would succeed Nanok but Ruto allies and NASA governors joined forces to forestall that possibility.Mvurya enjoyed the backing of President Uhuru Kenyatta and it, therefore, came as a no-brainer that he would easily upstage the incumbent.At the start of the induction of governors at Diani Reef Hotel, President Uhuru Kenyatta personally approached some governors to vote for Mvurya.Jubilee governors were expected to use their numerical superiority to tilt the race in favour of the Kwale governor.Nanok was not going to take this lying down so he embarked on a vigorous campaign, talking personally to his colleagues, those allied to Ruto and those in NASA, to retain his seat.Mandago's entry into the race complicated things for Mvurya, with Rift Valley governors vowing to rally behind the Eldoret governor. Governor Mandago was eventually convinced to withdraw from the race, leaving Nanok and Mvurya to battle it out.Those who had wanted to vote for Mandago decided to vote for Nanok, helping him to win.