What next for top guns who lost elective seats?

By Moses Michira

KENYA: The Sunkuli brothers were among the losers in their bid for the Narok County senatorial seat. But the loss is likely higher for the elder Julius who resigned as High Commissioner to China to pursue a political office.

Julius and his younger brother Andrew, a publisher, ran well-oiled campaigns using choppers to traverse the expansive county as they fought it out for the seat that was in the end captured by Stephen Ole Ntutu of the United Republican Party. The elder Sunkuli, sponsored by TNA, could be looking forward to a second time lucky to secure a government appointment after giving up his ambassadorial job he was given by President Kibaki.

Elective office

Julius Sunkuli’s predicament is shared by dozens, perhaps hundreds of other senior former government or private sector executives who quit their influential positions for more lucrative elective office.

His Australian counterpart Stephen Tarus resigned to seek an elective position but was unsuccessful in his intent to become the first governor of Nandi County, losing to Cleophas Lagat also of URP.

Francis Sigei, a former envoy to Nigeria, failed to win an elective position even as his ditching of his ambassadorial duties at his Lagos office was part of his plans to enter active politics.

Murang’a governor-elect Kembi Getura is the envy of the former envoys that failed to win over voters, after he left his well-paying job at Luxembourg, Belgium, last year to run one of the most populous counties in Central Kenya.

At least 10 PSs also left office last year, as required by law, to run for elective positions.

While most including Ken Lusaka, formerly of Livestock ministry and his Public Works peer John Lonyangapuo captured their prizes as Bungoma governor and West Pokot Senator, respectively, others were not as lucky.

James Ole Kiyiapi was probably the most ambitious of the 45 PSs after quitting his Jogoo House office in the Education ministry early last year to seek the presidency.

 He garnered almost 41,000 votes countrywide to emerge seventh overall, ahead of established multiparty icon and lawyer Paul Muite who got 12,580 votes.

Mohammed Wa Mwachia, the former PS in the Forestry Department could not capture the Kwale gubernatorial seat that was won by ODM’s Salim Mvuria.

Former Immigration PS Emmanuel Kisombe also bit the dust in his bid for the Taita Taveta gubernatorial bid, losing to John Mrutu.