Nakuru politics: Battle for County's top seats begins
An aeriel view of Nakuru city.
Dearest Gentle Reader,
The Nakuru political pot is simmering again, and you can almost smell the smoke from Kuresoi to Naivasha.
The visitors’ book in the county is filling fast as national leaders troop in under empowerment programs, with everyone drumming something. Better yet, we are seeing a repeat of the visitors. And, as is tradition, mgeni njoo mwenyeji apone.
Governor Susan Kihika, for instance, is already polishing her political guitar for a second term, in between the ribbon cuttings and empowerment events, as eyes also turn to former Governor Lee Kinyanjui, the man whose name refuses to leave Nakuru’s lips.
While the whispers grow louder about whether he will attempt to snatch back the governor’s seat, Kinyanjui is playing the laid back role.
Kinyanjui, who has remained reserved since leaving office, has not declared his next move but maintains that his focus is firmly on his current assignment as the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry at the national level.
“The time to declare those things will come, but I think right now I have a job which I am very committed to delivering,” he said in a recent interview, carefully placing his cards face down.
Kinyanjui noted that performance today is the currency of tomorrow’s ambition.
“You are judged for your next appointment by how you perform what you have, so my dream is to do what I can within my space with my team,” he added dismissively.
Kihika, on the other hand, also keeps reminding Nakuru that the senatorial seat is vacant, and she has a favorite diamond of the season picked- David Gikaria.
She refers to the race as unfinished business, one that has reignited her longstanding duel with Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja, and residents are set for another Nakuru special soap opera of where this feud will land.
And yet, dearest reader, after the inaugural June 2024 protest that brought the country to its knees, the ballroom has new dancers as heavyweight politicians are now having a run for their money.
A restless crop of young leaders now circles the arena, eager to shake the table and unseat the old guard.
Although they may lack the polished money chests, seasoned networks, and are underfunded, politics is not your regular nine-to-five where promotions come after neat appraisals- here, you grab the mic, make noise, and hope the crowd sings along.
Now, we wait with popcorn in hand, watching to see who shall emerge as the true diamond of ton’s fourth political season.