Kiambu Governor William Kabogo casts his vote at St. George's Primary School on April 25, 2017. [Photo/nation.co.ke]
Political parties’ nominations have caught several politicians by surprise.
Several heavyweights have been axed by the electorate.
Key among them are Kiambu Governor William Kabogo (conceded defeat to Ferdinand Waititu, despite less than 10 per cent of results being announced), Kirinyaga Governor Joseph Ndathi who lost to Ann Waiguru, Nandi Governor Cleophas Lagat and Baringo’s Benjamin Cheboi.
The most discussed topic on social media in the past 24 hours has been the Kabogo – Waititu duel.
Kabogo, while addressing the media on Tuesday evening, conceded defeat, but maintained that someone was behind his defeat.
“Waititu would most probably be the next Kiambu governor,’’ Kabogo said.
Kabogo claimed that his rival, the Kabete MP, had been seen with the returning officers on the eve of the nominations.
He claimed there were powerful forces within the party that wanted him out of the governor position.
“Rumours are that I am a threat to someone. I don’t know whether that is true but as fate will have it, you bite it one step at a time. So I want to say I don’t agree with this nominations. The petition is with the party, the party can do whatever it is that they deem fit to do,” he said.
Political analyst Prof Herman Manyora says Kabogo’s troubles began when he said that Mt Kenya region might not automatically vote for Deputy President William Ruto come 2022.
DP Ruto signed an agreement with President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013 that he would back Uhuru for two terms, then get the President’s support come 2022.
Kabogo’s remarks were followed by Nominated Senator Paul Njoroge’s – who told Ruto to stop campaigning for 2022 presidency and that Mt Kenya voters have the right to choose who they want.
Prof Manyora argues that if indeed there were powerful forces behind Kabogo’s defeat, it had to be the Deputy President.
“Kabogo is not a pushover. If there is a reason powers that be want him out, it is because of 2022,” he said on Citizen TV on Tuesday evening.