As the 2022 election beckons, Nakuru has become a hotbed of politics, with national politics influencing local politics to a great extent.
The Nakuru gubernatorial and senatorial contests will be the races to watch.
At the moment, the governor race appears to be a contest between two contenders, while the Senate contest is still attracting aspirants.
Senator Susan Kihika has already declared she will be in the governor race to dislodge incumbent Lee Kinyanjui.
This has left the Senate seat, wide open with several candidates already showing interest.
It is, however, the entrance of Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja into the Senate race that has intensified the battle to replace the firebrand Senator Kihika.
This seems to have stirred the Senate race that hitherto has not attracted heavyweights.
The 57-year-old businesswoman declared her bid for the seat in Naivasha in October.
Tabitha said she made the decision after months of consultations with family and friends, adding that she has the skills, energy and knowledge to represent the county.
“For months we have been involved in consultations with close friends and it’s time I gave this seat a shot,” Tabitha said.
She has been at loggerheads with the Kenya Revenue Authority as the taxman says the brewer has evaded payment of billions of shillings in excise duty.
“I have been at the centre of unfair business practices and given a chance, I will introduce laws to protect investors and increase business opportunities," Tabitha said.
In a series of tweets, Tabitha has said she is meeting the people of Nakuru to discuss what matters to them and the right political party for her.
Her entry has attracted seasoned politicians, a journalist, business mogul and professionals among them radio host Njogu wa Njoroge
Nakuru businessman James Mwaura said until Tabitha's entry, the Senate seat had not attracted serious candidates compared to the 2017 general election.
At the time, the seat attracted Kihika, the daughter of veteran firebrand politician Kihika Kimani, and Karanja Kabage (deceased), a veteran politician and businessman
"[Some of ] those who have expressed interest in the senatorial seat to me are non-starters. Tabitha infuses the oomph that the senatorial seat should have. She is a well-known businesswoman from Nakuru county who has fought many battles to save her business empire from huge forces,” Mwaura said.
He said the entry of Tabitha will upset the status quo as she attracts immediate interest that the other candidates lack.
“The senator seat is mostly contested and won by candidates known throughout the county. Tabitha is known countrywide. The mention of her name is instantly relatable to Keroche Breweries,” Mwaura added.
But vernacular radio presenter Njogu Wa Njoroge is expected to give Tabitha a run for her money. He is a household name in the Kikuyu radio scene.
Njogu, whose name means elephant in Kikuyu, hopes to trample more than eight aspirants in the crowded senator's race.
The radio presenter, who has worked for Royal Media Services, Mediamax Network Limited and Radio Africa Group, is a force to reckon with in Nakuru.
He has made a name for himself in the Kikuyu FM Radio scene as a defender of people not shy to confront and call out politicians who do not perform.
He previously worked for Inooro FM before moving to Kameme FM and then to Radio Africa Group’s Gukena FM. He then headed back to Mediamax’s Kameme TV where he still works.
Njogu had hinted at running for the seat during the burial of Mololine founder Kibera Muchai in September this year. The mourners cheered.
He said he was consulting widely.
“I am contemplating and I will give you the way forward when time is right,” Njogu said.
Njogu’s campaign team says plans are in high gear to roll out an aggressive campaign but is yet to declare the party he will vie on.
He unsuccessfully sought the Njoro MP seat in 2017.
Youth leader John Momandi, popularly known as Kings, said several factors will determine the Senate race winner.
“Party politics will be one of the factors. Whoever is with the most popular party will be home and dry. That's why aspirants are adopting a wait-and-see attitude because the wrong party will make a good candidate lose,” Momandi said.
“The other factor is a gender issue. If the top contender for the Nakuru governor seat will be a woman, then it is highly likely that voters will want to vote for male senator and vice versa,” Momandi added.
He said the race will be a contest between radio presenter Njoroge, Tabitha and lawyer Stanley Karanja.
The race has attracted more than eight candidates, all men except for Tabitha.
Others are Dr Joseph Mburu, former medical superintendent at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital, Molo MP Kuria Kimani, nominated MP Gideon Keter, Treasury CAS Nelson Gachuhie, footballer-cum-politician Mike Weche, politician Andrew Yatich and Davis Ruto.
Candidates have been engaging grassroots leaders, allies as well as holding town hall meetings to lay the groundwork for the expected gruelling campaign.
(Edited by V. Graham)