Former Ward Reps have made history by fighting their way to the coveted governor post in the just-concluded elections.

Outgoing Nairobi City County Majority Leader Ibrahim Abdi Hassan alias Guyo is among the leaders who have fought their way to the top job.

The Jubilee candidate clinched the Isiolo governor seat after garnering 28,946 votes.  

Others are governors-elect Simba Arati (Kisii) Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a) and Jeremiah Lomorukai (Turkana).

Guyo is the outgoing Matopeni/Spring Valley MCA in Embakasi Central.

Arati and Lomorukai are outgoing MPs for Dagoretti North and Loima constituencies respectively while Kang’ata is the outgoing Murang’a Senator.

Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malalah, a former Mahiakalo MCA, is waiting for his fate as the county heads to the polls on Monday.

 Guyo, 41, trounced former Governor Godana Doyo who ran as an Independent. He was initially elected as councillor in 2007. He was only 21 years old then and served for three terms, without losing an election where he rose to become Nairobi City Majority Leader unopposed in 2017.

In 2013, he served as Minority Leader in the Nairobi County Assembly.

Giving his victory speech, Guyo thanked voters for giving him the chance to serve as their third governor, pledging to serve all residents diligently regardless of whether they voted for him or not.

 “I am grateful for the overwhelming support. I commit to do my best to steer our county to the next level,” he said.

He will be sworn in today at Isiolo Boys High School playground from 10am to 2pm in accordance with the law.

For Lomorukai, he used the long route of vying for National Assembly and Senate seats, before going for gubernatorial position. The Orange party candidate bagged 66,631 votes to clinch the seat.

The ODM Vice-Chairman said his administration will address corruption to ensure residents reap the benefit of devolution. “I appreciate the people of Turkana for giving me this opportunity to serve them. I promise to deliver and to ensure funds are injected into every sector so that we get adequate water and better healthcare services and reduce poverty index,” he said.

Nominated councillor

In 2013, he contested for MCA Turkwel Ward, won, and served for five years.

In 2017, he went further to contest for MP Loima constituency, won, and served for five years.

In 2022, he joined the race for Governor and won. He will be the second governor, succeeding Josephat Nanok.

For Arati, he shot into the limelight after he was nominated as a councillor at the defunct Nairobi City County in 2007 where he served alongside Guyo.

In 2008 and 2011, he vied for Nairobi Mayor’s seat, losing to Baba Dogo MCA Godfrey Majiwa and George Aladwa, now Makadara-MP-elect.

In the 2013 General Election, he won the Dagoretti North seat, which was hived off from the larger Westlands and Dagoretti constituency, where he went on to serve for two terms until in the just-concluded polls.  Arati, 41, toppled old guards garnering 270, 928 votes.

He has since called on his competitors to join hands with him help develop the county.

“Whatever you want to do for the county, let us  join hands and help me grow our county,”  he said.

He, however, warned that his government will not condone corruption.

Throughout his campaigns, Arati championed the cause of the poor and his resolve to confront graft.

Kang’ata on the other hand, a former councilor for Central Ward (currently known as Township) in Murang’a has risen through the political ranks right from a civic ward level way up to the Senate and now governor-elect.

He becomes the second county boss, having taken over from outgoing Governor Mwangi Wa Iria. Kang’ata , who contested under  United Democratic Alliance ticket, won by a landslide after garnering 246,849 votes. He joined politics in 2007.

In 2012, he was elected Kiharu MP before becoming Murang’a Senator in 2017.

Kang’ata has affirmed that he will deliver all his promises.

He further noted that he shall work closely with other elected leaders in the county up to the lowest office to ensure seamless service delivery.

 “We will now have to put more  effort and I have no doubt in the promises that I made. We must deliver a world class health care for the people of Murang’a,” he said.