With only nine months left to the 2022 General election, some veteran politicians have indicated that they will be vying for various positions.
A majority of the politicians, who have previously served as Members of Parliament and ministers in past administrations, have declared their interest in contesting for various gubernatorial seats across the country.
Martha Karua
NARC Kenya party leader has previously announced that she will be vying for the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat. The veteran politician often referred to as the 'iron lady', contested for the seat in 2017 and lost to incumbent Anne Waiguru.
In recent months, Karua has been fronted as a possible running mate in the upcoming polls. However, the former Justice and Legal Affairs Minister in President Mwai Kibaki's administration insists that she is focused on unseating Waiguru.
"I have said that I am only vying here for the gubernatorial seat, then you should believe me and stop asking around," Karua stated during a political gathering on October 24.
The former minister is set to be battle it out with Waiguru and Kirinyaga woman representative Purity Ngirici, who is also eyeing the seat.
Johnson Muthama
In 2017, the former Machakos senator announced that he would not seek an elective seat in the then elections explaining that he would focus his energy on the presidential campaigns for the then NASA coalition.
However, the politician, who is the current chairman of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, has declared interest in the Machakos Gubernatorial seat with the incumbent governor Alfred Mutua serving his final term.
In a tweet on Monday, November 1, Muthama stated that if elected, his administration would focus on health and infrastructure.
"My County administration will ensure that each Subcounty in Machakos is allocated a grader to open up feeder roads in each ward so that farmers and traders can gain access to markets," Muthama tweeted.
Ferdinand Waititu
While in the company of Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday, September 19, the former Kiambu Governor alias Baba Yao declared that he would vie for the Kiambu gubernatorial seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.
“Where I am today, I will be coming back to Kiambu. Do you want me to come back to Kiambu? I am with you and I am with the Deputy President in the UDA party,” Waitutu declared.
Waititu was elected as the second governor of Kiambu in 2017 but the veteran politician was unceremoniously impeached in December 2019. Following his impeachment, the former governor was succeeded by his then deputy, Governor Dr. James Nyoro.
Boni Khalwale
Khalwale, a close ally of DP Ruto, has previously indicated that he will be vying for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in 2022. The former senator contested for the seat in 2017 on a FORD Kenya ticket but lost to the incumbent and outgoing governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
Recently, the veteran politician has been at the forefront in championing UDA in the western region further indicating that he will be using the party as his political vehicle in the upcoming polls.
Khalwale served as a member served as an Ikolomani MP from 2002 to 2013 and later as Kakamega Senator from 2013 to 2017.
William Kabogo
The former Kiambu governor who served for 2013-2017 has previously indicated that he would make a political comeback in 2022, declaring that he will be contesting for the presidency in the upcoming polls.
In 2017, Kabogo, who vied for the gubernatorial seat as an independent candidate, lost to Waititu. Kabogo has since formed his own political party, the Tujibebe Wakenya Party (TWP).
Suleiman Shabhal
The businessman, contested for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat in 2017 on a Jubilee ticket and lost to the incumbent Hassan Joho.
The tycoon has previously indicated that he will work with the ODM party leader, Raila Odinga in the upcoming polls, declaring that he will be contesting for the Mombasa Gubernatorial seat again.
The veteran politician will face off with the likes of Mvita legislator, Abdulswamad Nassir, who has declared that he will contest for the seat on an ODM ticket.
Hassan Omar
Omar is a human rights activist who served as Mombasa Senator between 2013 and 2017. The former senator is currently part of Ruto’s strategists spearheading his 2022 presidential campaign.
Omar is set to contest for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat. He vied for the seat in 2017 but lost to the incumbent and outgoing governor Hassan Joho.
Omar also served as the secretary-general of Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party before resigning in September 2017.
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