Cherobon: Stakes high in London ward, Nakuru County politics

The twists and turns of Nakuru County Politics are increasing as we near the 2022 political battle.

What would have been an eventless by-election in a backwater county ward of Nakuru to fill the vacant seat of the late  Samuel Mbugua, now widely believed to have been the first people to die of Covid-19 here in Kenya, is turning out to be `ground zero` for almost everyone.

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Key subjects in the Nakuru County Politics

The consequential candidates are only two, but the would be winners and losers are numerous. The two horses in this race are UDA’s Anthony Nzuki and hustlers loving Jubilee, kieleweke candidate Francis Njoroge.

At party level, president Uhuru has renewed his rivalry with Deputy President William Ruto.

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In this by-election, President Kenyatta who has since isolated his Deputy for the claims of early campaigns for 2022 knows that a loss fundamentally recalibrates future politics and seals his fate immediately and permanently as a dead dog.

Nakuru County Politics: Th mess in Jubilee

Susan Kihika, the Nakuru senator also seeks to claim victory in this by-election, the win by UDA will give her confidence and bolster her stab at the county’s top seat in 2022. But Kihika is not the only one seeking to claim victory if Nzuki somehow pulls a surprise win. There’s also Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri.

UDA is not just giving Jubilee sleepless nights.  From Uhuru’s own Mt. Kenya backyard, a group loosely coalescing around Jubilee’s party SG, Raphael Tuju and controversial Jubilee vice chair David Murathe are all deep in London ward to settle old scores.

UDA in Nakuru’s London ward is the favorite to win the by-election. This election is not just Anthony Nzuki vs Francis Njoroge.

It is also about UDA vs Jubilee, Kihika vs Kamanda/Murathe , Murathe vs Ruto, Kimani Ngunjiri vs Uhuru, Susan Kihika vs Jubilee, Tuju vs Everyone, UDA vs Deep state, Raila vs Ruto and…wait for it…Uhuru vs Ruto! It is an election no one wants to lose. Not even myself. For sure.

Abigael Cherobon is a Journalism Student, KCA University