[ad_1]
Turkana governor Josphat Nanok is in William Ruto’s presidential campaign team that is being driven by a two-tier team of the political elite and top technocrats. According to sources in the team, Governor Nanok comes in as the coordinator of the Hustler movement.The governor is touted to be a politically experienced face after having served as the chairman council of governors.
Josphat Nanok
He is serving his second and final term. Governor Nanok is expected to coordinate the professional handlers who include former Central Bank of Kenya governor Njuguna Ndung’u, economist David Ndii, former cabinet secretary Davis Chirchir, who is an ICT expert, and Larry Gumbe, a former ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga. Others in the team are Augustine Choge, Kap Jason, Edward Kisiang’ani, Mugambi Mureithi, Raphael Munavu, former Raila ally Eliud Owalo and communications expert Barrack Muluka. He is also tasked with coordinating the activities of the DP Ruto political tier that includes UDA chairman Johnson Muthama, former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale, former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar and former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri.
Edward Kisiang’ani
Others are Nakuru senator Susan Kihika, Uasin Gishu woman representative Gladys Shollei, Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua and nominated MP Cecily Mbarire, among others. The team has embarked on an elaborate strategy to build a manifesto centred on ordinary people as the DP aggressively forges a formidable campaign machine. The governor became a marked man when he clashed with Raila over Building Bridges Initiative in February this year. The ODM leader faced-off with the governor in Lodwar, where they attended mass. Governor Nanok who was elected on an ODM ticket, held a parallel rally dismissing the BBI, while the former premier was in the county drumming up support for a law change.
Larry Gumbe
As Raila was in Kakuma in Turkana East, Nanok was in Lowarang’ek in the neighbouring Turkana North, where he discredited BBI, saying it would not guarantee increased resources to the marginalised. The governor is also among regional point men the DP has cobbled and he is expected to rally both the Turkana and Pokot to support fully the hustler movement. West Pokot governor John Lonyangapuo, elected on Kanu ticket, is also towing joining Ruto camp at the right time. Nanok does not go to bed with former senator and cabinet secretary of Petroleum and Mining John Munyes, Turkana senator Malachy Ekal and his West Pokot counterpart Samuel Poghisio. The governor is expected to handle not only his succession but also ensure elective posts in 2022 general elections go to faces in the deputy president camp.
Njuguna Ndung’u
That is why Governor Lonyangapuo, Munyes, Poghisio among a host of other politicians from the area are not comfortable with the tough-talking governor. He is now an influential figure and at the centre of things in the hustler movement. Recently, Governor Nanok assured residents of Turkana that he will still champion for the welfare of the county even after his constitutional tenure as governor comes to an end. From the look of thing and although he is yet to come open, sources say the governor will go for an elective seat preferably the senate. Other sources told Weekly Citizen that the governor is still weighing his options and testing waters if the hustler movement carries the day after the 2022 general elections, he will be appointed to a plum position in the Ruto government, thus he may not run.
Gladys Shollei
During the Lodwar Jamia Mosque fete, Governor Nanok said he is a leader in Turkana and it is the constitution that dictates his term as governor adding that he is not going anywhere and will not miss another position from where he will continue helping his people. Governor Nanok said that he is yet to declare who he will support to succeed him in next year’s general election. He has asked residents of Turkana to disregard misinformation on who he will support in the next election, as he was yet to reveal his choice.
Source link
