Lenku Tipped to Take Over as COG Chair Amidst Tough Competition

Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has emerged as the odds favourite to clinch the Council of Governors chairperson position.

Lenku who clinched  his second term tenure in the August 9 election on ODM ticket is expected to battle it out with Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru who is expected to be fronted by the Kenya Kwanza Government.

Governor Lenku is among the most experienced among the 47 governors having served as the Interior Cabinet Secretary in the Jubilee government.

He is currently ranked as the Maa Community spokesman and will be the second governor from the drought-threatened counties to ascend to the position if elected.

A senior ODM official said that the party will back Lenku for the position as part of its agenda to put emphasis on devolution.

” Our commitment to support devolution remains intact and we want our Governor Lenku in charge at the CoG,”senior ODM official said.

Mark Leboo, a close ally to  Governor Lenku has described the former CS as amoderate,accommodative and a man  open to criticism.

He says Lenku is supported from across the political divide.

“Coalitions  aside,COG Chairman should not be too embedded to the Ruling Party as at times,  one needs some independence, not raw and blinding loyalty,” he said

Lenku’s  team is also promising its argument on the fact that 80 % of former Chairmen of COG have been from cash crop growing zones while only one has been from pastoral areas.

The Outgoing COG Chairman Martin Wambora of Embu is from the Mt Kenya Region and has served two terms as governor.

He was deputised by immediate former Kisii governor James Ongwae who has also served two terms as governor.

Outgoing Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok is the only one from pastoralist counties to have served in the position.

The all 47 Govenors are expected in Mombasa this week to carry out their Council elections.

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