This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
Published on August 1, 2019, Devolution PS Charles Sunkuli has joined the growing list of high-profile individuals vying to succeed Narok governor Samuel Tunai.
With a grassroots approach, Sunkuli has been actively engaging with the community, attending fundraisers, church functions, and communal events across the county every weekend.
This move is expected to complicate the race for the presumed frontrunners, Interior chief administrative secretary Patrick Ntutu and Narok South MP Korei ole Lemeini, who have been campaigning to solidify their support bases.
The Narok governor succession is predicted to be one of the most hotly contested political duels, with clannism playing a central role. The candidate who manages to win over the neutral votes, particularly from the Kisii and Kipsigis communities, is well-placed to win the top job.
One area of interest is the minority factor, where populous clans have produced many candidates, leaving the smaller clans at a disadvantage. Sunkuli, from the minority Moitanik clan of Trans Mara, may be in a prime position to consolidate support from other small clans and communities.
His handlers reveal that they will be pulling all stops to win over the hearts of the Siria clan, Tunai's bastion. Both Ntutu and Lemeini hail from the populous Purko clan, which may see them split the vote to Sunkuli's advantage. In the August 2018 polls, Ntutu came second.
