LITMUS TEST: Moment of truth for Malala, Barasa in Oparanya’s succession race

Political bigwigs hang by a thread just hours before IEBC final whistle as Lusaka, Wangamati enter into a rematch

By Seliphar Musungu, Kakamega

Political bigwigs in the Kakamega gubernatorial race are holding their breath ahead of tomorrow’s elections in the race to succeed outgoing Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. At the same time, the contest could kill political careers of many.

Cyrus Jirongo (UDP), Suleiman Sumba (Kanu), Samuel Omukoko (MDP), Michael Osundwa (Ind) and Austine Opitso (IDP) are also participating in the race

Senator Cleophas Malala (ANC) and Fernandes Barasa (ODM) are the main men to watch in the gubernatorial contest.

Cyrus Jirongo (UDP), Suleiman Sumba (Kanu), Samuel Omukoko (MDP), Michael Osundwa (Ind) and Austine Opitso (IDP) are also participating in the race.

After tomorrow’s elections, either Malala or Barasa will be declared as the second governor of Kakamega.

Currently, Kakamega has 1,867,579 people and out of these, 841,139 are registered voters, according to IEBC.

In Bungoma, we shall be having a rematch between the Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka (Ford Kenya) and Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati (DAP-K).

Wangamati won the seat on a Ford Kenya ticket with a margin of 21,493 votes after garnering 197,422 votes against Lusaka’s 175, 929 votes.

Lusaka was floored by Wangamati in 2017 with the help of area Senator Moses Wetang’ula but in an interesting twist, Wetang’ula is supporting Lusaka as the lion’s party candidate.

Wangamati won the seat on a Ford Kenya ticket with a margin of 21,493 votes after garnering 197,422 votes against Lusaka’s 175, 929 votes. Zachariah Barasa (UDP) and Martin Ndiwa Simotwo (NVP) are also participating in the race.

In Vihiga, it will also be a rematch between the incumbent governor Wilbur Ottichilo (ODM) and his predecessor, Moses Akaranga (PPK). Akaranga was the first governor of Vihiga county in 2013 but narrowly lost to Ottichilo in the 2017 polls.

Others in the race is outgoing Vihiga Senator George Khaniri (UDP), Francis Ominde (KPK) and Sabatia MP Alferd Agoi (ANC).

ODM’s Paul Otuoma is said to be the favourite candidate to  clinch the seat due to the ODM wave in the county

And in Busia, the race has narrowed down to four candidates after Moses Mulomi, the area deputy governor bolted out of the race in favour of  Nambale MP Sakwa Bunyasi.

ODM’s Paul Otuoma is said to be the favourite candidate to  clinch the seat due to the ODM wave in the county.

Others are former Busia Education Chief Officer Daniel Mogoria (National Agenda Party) and businessman Michael Olooon (NLP).

Ends