County political feuds force governors to rethink running mates

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Several governors seeking re-election are facing a tough balancing act in their bid to retain their seats as they scramble to find new running mates with 2027 elections just under a year away.

Some 10 county chiefs find themselves in a tight political spot having either fallen out or faced frosty relations with their deputies who played crucial roles in their ascent to power in the 2022 General Election.

The governors are now in a race against time to scout for new running mates as part of crafting a formidable ticket to boost their chances of securing a second term.

The latest news of parting of ways between Kericho Governor Erick Mutai and his deputy adds to the growing list of nasty fallouts between governors and their deputies since the 2022 elections.

Others who are facing the daunting task of finding new running mates include Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich, and Siaya Governor James Orengo.

On the other hand, it is not clear whether Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, her Kisii counterpart Simba Arati, and Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii will go into the 2027 elections with their current deputies who came into office in the backdrop of a fallout with their running mates who they were elected with in 2022.

Other governors who at one time have had a frosty relationship with their deputies include Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, and Isiolo’s Abdi Guyo.

This means that out of the 29 governors seeking re-election, only 19 have not had a run-in with their deputies since being elected into office in the 2022 elections.

The counties include Nairobi, Kakamega, Busia, Migori, Nakuru, Nyamira, Samburu, Turkana, Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyandarua, Makueni, Embu, Meru, Mandera, Taita Taveta, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa.

However, the good relations the lot is enjoying does not guarantee the pair heading into the 2027 elections as one amid ongoing political realignments in the country.

Article 180(5) of the Constitution states that each candidate for election as county governor shall nominate a person who is qualified for nomination for election as county governor as a candidate for deputy governor.

Governors and their deputies have rarely enjoyed cordial working relationships in the seemingly forced political marriages of convenience.

Theirs have been a “marriage” fraught with betrayal, self-interest, broken agreements, and in good times, tolerance.

Governor Mutai on Tuesday dropped the first political bombshell when he announced severing ties with his deputy Fred Kirui after years of rocky political relationship.

“I want to clear the air and tell my deputy Fred Kirui, in his presence here, that since it is public knowledge that he was behind the two failed attempts to have me impeached, our political relationship has come to an end,” said Dr Mutia during an event in Chilchila Ward, Kipkelion West Constituency.

The first term governor went on to reveal that he will henceforth be working with his Finance and Economic Planning CEC Jackson Rop, who hails from Kipkelion West where Mr Kirui is also from, as a possible running mate in the next elections.

The governor and his deputy were elected on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket in the 2022 General Election but have had a strained relationship over the running of the county government.

Mr Kirui accused his boss of reneging on a pre-election deal on sharing of county appointments leading to a bitter feud.

He claimed the two had agreed on sharing of appointments on a 60:40 basis but as soon as they took the oath of office, the gentleman's agreement was thrown out of the window.

The DG accused the governor of failing to stick to his side of the agreement and sidelining him in the management of the county affairs.

“During our discussions, we signed an agreement that when we win elections, we would form the government together. He was expected to take care of 60 percent as I remained with 40 percent, the agreement is before a commissioner of oaths. However, I got zero shares,” said Mr Kirui.

Governor Mutai would later survive two impeachment attempts in October 2024 and August 2025 after being saved by the Senate on both occasions.

Early this month, an ugly public confrontation between Governor Rotich and his deputy Grace Cheserek spilt into the open after Ms Cheserek confronted her boss over a public snub.

The two clashed during the launch of the translated Marakwet Bible in Tot, Marakwet East after Governor Rotich introduced members of his county executive and other officials without acknowledging her.

“Governor, you should stop demeaning me. I am the deputy governor, and you should introduce me as such. You should just say that you are with your deputy,” said Ms Cheserek.

The confrontation was the latest sign of strained relations between the two following a threat by Ms Cheserek to attend a parallel Mashujaa Day celebrations within the county.

The deputy governor has on several occasions accused her boss of sidelining her in the running of the county, accusations the governor has denied.

In Trans Nzoia, Governor Natembeya and his deputy Philomena Kapkory have been embroiled in turf wars after falling out in 2023.

Ms Kapkory told the Senate how she has been excluded, discriminated against and sidelined in decision-making and running of county affairs.

She alleged that Governor Natembeya had encouraged and condoned insubordination and disrespect by some members of the Executive and junior staff against her.

This is in addition to arbitrary reduction and delay of budgetary facilitation for legitimate operations of her office. However, the governor has denied the allegations.

“My predicaments as a deputy governor border on lack of facilitation to discharge duties, contempt, mistreatment, intimidation, security and threats to life, public vilification, and deliberate acts of disrespect by junior county staff, among others,” said Ms Kapkory at the height of the bitter fallout.

In Siaya, Deputy Governor William Oduol is said to be the second in command in the county just on paper as he no longer sees eye-to-eye with Governor Orengo.

Dr Oduol survived removal from office in 2023 following his impeachment by Siaya County Assembly after senators dismissed the attempt by the MCAs.

However, he told a Senate committee in May 2024 that his working relationship with Governor Orengo has worsened since then as he continues to face frustration from his boss, preventing him from executing his duties.

Governor Wanga, Arati and Bii have new deputies following resignation of former holders of the office with one Robert Monda being impeached in the process.

Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga was last year shown the door by Governor Wanga after he openly defied his boss during the Kasipul parliamentary by-elections.

Mr Magwanga supported an independent candidate, Philip Aroko, at a time when the governor, who also doubles as ODM national chairperson, was rooting for ODM party candidate Boyd Were, who eventually won the race.

His position is now being held by former Roads Executive Danish Onyango but it is not clear whether or not Governor Wanga will stick with Mr Onyango, seen as a political lightweight, in the 2027 elections.

In Kisii, Mr Monda ended up paying the ultimate price in 2024 in his battle with his boss Governor Arati after being impeached following a political tussle.

Mr Elijah Julius Obebo, a former County Public Service Board chairperson, was later named as his replacement. Mr Obebo, considered a political novice, may not be Governor Arati’s running mate in the 2027 elections considering he is facing a major political onslaught in the county from the opposition side marshaled by former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.

Uasin Gishu deputy governor John Barorot resigned from office in 2024 for greener pastures forcing Governor Bii to turn to Tembelio Ward MCA Evans Kapkea as his deputy.

With complex political arithmetic informing the choice of a running mate, it is not clear whether Mr Kapkea ticks all the boxes.

Last year, Governor Guyo cut his Deputy Governor James Lowasa’s acting and executive roles during a county cabinet reshuffle after surviving an impeachment attempt.

Dr Lowasa was stripped of his CECM portfolio in Education and his active departmental duties, leaving him without a specific executive docket.

There have been reports of a cold war between Governor Ndeti and her deputy Francis Mwangagi but the simmering turf wars were nipped in the bud before festering.

Since 2013, only 15 DGs have been retained by their bosses in the subsequent election cycle with the rest parting ways amid clash of egos.

Among the pioneer deputies, Ms Fatuma Achani and Amos Nyaribo stand out as the only DGs who were not only retained by their bosses but successfully succeeded them, albeit in different circumstances.

Mr Nyaribo succeeded the late John Nyangarama following the former governor’s sudden death in 2020 and is now serving his second term.

Ms Adelina Mwau (Makueni), Trans Nzoia’s Stanley Tarus, Evalyn Aruasa (Narok), Hamilton Orata (Homa Bay), Migori’s Nelson Mwaita, Joash Maangi (Kisii), Philip Kutima (Kakamega) and Daniel Kiplagat (Uasin Gishu) managed to successfully seek re-election with their bosses.

Although it was not all rosy between Mr Maangi and his boss, James Ongwae as the two were involved in on-and-off squabbles, the latter decided to retain his deputy in the 2017 elections for political balancing and the “marriage of convenience” had its ups and downs in the second term.

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.