Hardly a fortnight after the hotly contested August 9th general polls, a different type of race is playing out across the 47 county assemblies as Members of County Assembly (MCAs) strive to attain house leadership positions.
In Nakuru County, the lobbying for power is steadily intensifying.
Top on the list is the speaker position, which has attracted several candidates.
On one hand, a group of former ward representatives are fronting Joel Karuri, a former Biashara Ward representative and chairperson of the Budget Committee in the outgoing assembly, for the post of Speaker.
Mr Karuri lost to Elijah Kamau Chege of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the August 9 polls.
In a house made up of 39 UDA ward representatives, six Jubilee MCAs, one Safina MCA and seven MCAs elected as independent candidates, it will take a lot of convincing to garner adequate votes.
Outgoing Deputy Speaker Samuel Tonui (UDA), who has retained the Nessuit Ward seat is also keen to defend his position.
So far, at least four serious candidates have been meeting the MCAs.
They include former Executive Committee Member Anne Njenga and former Kuresoi MP James Cheruiyot.
Former vocal Kabazi MCA Peter Mbae is also eyeing the position.
Sources say the contenders have been holding secret discussions with newly elected ward representatives across the country.
The jostling for other positions of Majority Leader, Minority Leader and their deputies, Chief Whip Majority and Chief Whip Minority and their deputies and committee chairpersons is ongoing.
