As the August 8 General Election approaches, leaders across the country have been expressing interest in various top political seats.
Interesting, though, is the number of old guards who served in the previous administration who have now shown intent to get back to government be it the executive or legislative arm.
A number of leaders who were in former President Mwai Kibaki's government as Ministers or Assistant Ministers are interested in running for gubernatorial, senate or parliamentary seats after losing in the 2013 General Election.
One of the notable figures seeking to make a comeback is former Water and Lands Minister Charity Ngilu who recently parted ways with the government over allegations of corruption.
Ngilu, who served in the Water docket in Kibaki's administration and later took up the Lands job in the Jubilee government, is now eying the Kitui gubernatorial seat.
She has been conducting sustained campaigns seeking to dethrone incumbent Julius Malombe but has not divulged on which party she would vie on.
Henry Kosgey
After staying in the cold for close to five years, the former Industrialisation Cabinet Minister announced his bid for the Nandi gubernatorial seat.
The former ODM Chairman vied for the county Senatorial seat in the last polls but lost to new entrant Stephen Sang who vied on a Jubilee ticket.
Noah Wekesa
After heading the Forestry and Wildlife docket in the previous regime, Wekesa is reportedly set to vie for the Trans Nzoia Governor's seat.
Wekesa, who recently co-chaired the Jubilee Party national steering committee, has previously been quoted stating that there was no problem with former politicians seeking re-election.
Franklin Bett
The former Roads Cabinet Minister has also thrown his hat in the ring after expressing interest in the Kericho gubernatorial position.
In 2013, he vied and lost the seat on an ODM ticket which he claimed was less popular in the region compared to Jubilee.
Again in 2016, he presented his candidature for the county senate seat during a mini poll but was beaten in the nominations by less popular Aaron Cheruiyot who went ahead to clinch the seat.
Chirau Ali Mwakwere
Mwakwere who has been serving as the country's ambassador to Tanzania in the Jubilee government recently announced that he had defected to ODM.
Popularly referred to as Zipapa, the former Transport Minister has been described as one of the leaders who were loyal to Jubilee and was rewarded with the ambassadorial job after losing the Kwale Senate seat in 2013.
During his defection, he announced that he would vie for the Kwale gubernatorial seat against Governor Salim Mvurya who ditched CORD for Jubilee.
Amos Kimunya
The former powerful Finance Minister is set to make a political comeback after he declared he will run for the Kipipiri Parliamentary seat, which he lost in the last election.
Kimunya was ejected from Cabinet following sustained pressure after he was accused of massive corruption.
He however strongly denied the allegations with the infamous "I would rather die than resign" phrase.
Samuel Poghisio
Having previously served at the helm of the Information and Communication Ministry, Poghisio announced that he would run for the West Pokot Senatorial seat on a KANU ticket.
While launching his bid in 2016, the Communication Minister accused the Jubilee administration of embezzling public funds, promising to work with incumbent Senator John Lonyangapuo who is set to run for governorship in the same county.
Wavinya Ndeti
The former Kathiani Member of Parliament has been campaigning hard as she seeks to unseat Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua.
Ndeti, who served as Youth and Gender Assistant Minister and leads the Chama Cha Uzalendo Party, has on numerous occasions challenged Mutua's administration.
In her campaigns, she has maintained that she can do better than the incumbent based on her development record as a legislator.
Bifoli Wakoli
Known for his rather light and funny statements, the former Lands assistant minister has been out of the public light having lost his Bumula parliamentary seat in 2013.
In the upcoming polls, Wakoli is eyeing the Bungoma Senatorial seat in the August polls, a position currently held by Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetangula.
Jebi Kilimo
After losing her Marakwet East parliamentary seat in 2013, Linah Jebi Kilimo has vowed to clinch it again in the August 8 election.
The former assistant minister for Cooperative Development has urged residents to back her bid in order to complete the projects she started in her previous tenure.
