The shock waves of August 9 general election are still being felt across the country, as vote tallying continues. From provisional results by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, IEBC, it is a mix of fortunes.
Both veterans and greenhorns have had their fair share of surprises, either losers or winners. However, what has caught the attention of many is the comeback of veteran politicians, who served in previous regimes.
Kenyans.co.ke looks at powerful men who wielded power in the late Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Moi's governments as ministers and how they faired in the polls.
Amos Kimunya
The former National Assembly Majority leader was first elected as the Member of the National Assembly in Kipipiri in 2003 and later appointed into office as Minister for Lands and Settlement following the historic win of the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) led by Mwai Kibaki.
Kimunya was later appointed as Minister for Finance after David Mwiraria was implicated in the Anglo-leasing scandal that forced him to resign.
His political journey has not been smooth all through as he was once forced to step aside as minister following the controversial sale of the Grand Regency Hotel.
The outgoing Kipipiri MP suffered a huge blow after Wanjiku Muhia of the United Democratic Election (UDA) trounced him in the August 9, 2022 contest.
"The election was historic and will hopefully offer a moment of reflection. We appreciate that life is dynamic, shaped by constantly emerging and often surprising circumstances," he stated in his concession statement.
Paul Otuoma
Paul Otuoma was first elected into office to represent Funyula Constituency in 2007. He was subsequently appointed minister of local government during the Kibaki regime.
He served as a Member of Parliament until August 2017 when he contested for the Busia gubernatorial seat but he was defeated by Sospeter Ojamoong.
Dr Otuoma, a close ally of Raila Odinga, served as Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports between 2010 and 2013.
The former Minister will serve as the county's second governor after garnering 164,478 votes against Nambale MP John Bunyasi Sakwa who got 92,144 votes.
Ochilo Ayacko
Ochilo Ayacko began his political career in 1997 when he was first elected to the National Assembly to represent Rongo constituency.
He served as Minister of Gender, Sports, Culture, and Social Services under Mwai Kibaki after 2003.
In 2017, Ayacko ran for Governor of Migori but lost to Okoth Obado. The former Minister has made a comeback in the August, 9 polls after he floored eight opponents to win the governor race on an ODM ticket, garnering 175, 226 votes.
He defeated his closest rival John Pesa of DAP-K who had 126, 171 votes.
Musa Sirma
Musa Sirma is the former Minister for East African and Regional Cooperation in the late president Mwai Kibaki's cabinet and a former member of parliament for the Eldama Ravine Constituency.
The former Minister lost the seat in 2007 and 2013 to Moses Lessonet. After 15 years, Sirma managed to recapture the Eldama Ravine seat through the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party after garnering 32, 492 votes, defeating KANU’s Carol Jepkosgei Tallam who garnered 3,475 votes.
Julius Sunkuli
Julius Sunkuli was the former Internal Security minister in the late President Daniel Moi administration. He made a comeback after 20 years in the cold. He previously represented Kilgoris constituency in the National Assembly from 1997 to 2002.
Sunkuli, who was vying on a KANU ticket, won the parliamentary seat in Narok county after garnering 20,293 votes.
His closest competitor John Ololtua of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) managed 16,713 votes.
Danson Mungatana
Danson Mungatana popularly knowns as “ the crocodile eater” served in the Kibaki regime as an Assistant Minister of Regional development from 2003 to 2004.
He later served as an Assistant Minister for Provincial Administration and Internal Security in 2004, for one year and was appointed as the Assistant Minister of Lands in 2006. He vied for the Garsen parliamentary seat in 2007.
He was also an aspiring governor for Tana River in 2017. However, in the August, 9 polls he made a comeback by winning the Tana River senatorial seat on a UDA ticket with 34,129 votes, against Hassan Dukicha of Jubilee who got 18,082 votes.
Prof. Anyang Nyongo
Prof. Anyang Nyongo was first elected into parliament in 1992 before becoming Minister for Planning and National Development from 2003 to 2005 under the Mwai Kibaki regime.
He was also Minister for Medical Services from 2008 to 2013. He became the senator of Kisumu County from 2013 to 2017.
In 2017, the former ODM secretary general vied and won the Kisumu gubernatorial seat. In the 2022 race, Nyong'o successfully defended by garnering 164,110 votes, with his closest rival former governor Jack Ranguma managing 96, 480 votes.
