As second-term governors prepare to vacate office next year, some of the county bosses have opted to seek other elective posts as the constitution bars them from contesting for the governorship for a third term.
From parliamentary seats to the topmost job in the country, some of the governors have already declared their interest as the country readies for the polls.
Additionally, some of the ambitious politicians have already hit the campaign trail, aligning themselves with political parties and coalitions that guarantee them a lifeline post 2022.
Here are some of those governors and what they are eyeing at the moment;
Alfred Mutua
The outgoing Machakos governor declared his intentions to run for the presidency in 2022 even as he launched his manifesto on December 5.
After the launch, the governor was criticised by online users who stated that some of the promises by the governor such as having swimming pools across the country were unrealistic.
At the event, the Maendelop Chap Chap leader added that he would consider forming an alliance with ODM leader Raila Odinga stating that the former premier had a good chance of winning the presidency.
However, his pronouncements did not go down well with the Wiper party leader, Kalonzo Muyoka, who has also thrown his hat in the ring. Mutua has in the past openly castigated the former VP claiming that the Wiper boss was not development-oriented.
The outgoing Machakos governor was elected in 2013 on a Wiper party ticket and formed the Chap Chap movement in the run to the 2017 elections after falling out with Kalonzo.
Jackson Mandago
The two-term governor of Uasin Gishu declared that he would contest for the county's senatorial seat through the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
However, the announcement by the outgoing county boss rubbed a section of Deputy President William Ruto’s allies the wrong way. Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi for instant, felt that the governor should have retired from active politics.
In response, Mandago remained bullish insisting that he was fully focused on unseating Senator Marget Kamar who was elected to the position on a Jubilee ticket.
“I have been here and I received information that the Kapseret MP doesn’t want me to run for the position of senator. Whose political future is he organizing?” the governor queried then.
Cornel Rasanga
While addressing ODM delegates at his home on September 3, the outgoing Siaya governor became the first county leader to declare that he would run for a parliamentary seat.
"I want to ask my people to consider voting me as their MP in 2022. I am not ready yet to go for retirement, for I have sharp brains and I'm still young," Rasanga announced then.
At the same function, the county boss revealed that he would contest for the Alego Usonga parliamentary seat which is currently held by Samuel Atandi. His announcement attracted backlash from residents and leaders in the region who claimed that the post was a downgrade for the governor.
Rasanga intends to contest for the seat through the ODM party. The governor rose to the political scene in 2013 and was elected as Siaya’s pioneer governor. In 2017 he defended his sit and won narrowly in a hotly contested election which was contested by his rival Nicholas Gumbo.
Prof Kivutha Kibwana
Just like his Machakos counterpart, Prof Kibwana has made clear his intentions to run for the presidency in the 2022 General election.
The governor, who has been recognised for his development track record, previously announced that he would contest for the seat through his party, The Muungano Party. The governor has also previously hinted at a coalition with NARC Kenya party leader Martha Karua and Mukhisa Kituyi.
The Muungano party leader has also maintained a close relationship with ODM boss Raila Odinga with many expecting the two-term governor to join the Azimio la Umaja coalition in support of Raila's bid.
