2007 Political Hotspots: Aldai Constituency

In Aldai constituency in the North rift, the Choge Dynasty which has reigned for the last 30 years is threatened by the entry of former Head of civil services and secretary to the cabinet, Sally Kosgei, into the race.

Incumbent MP, Jimmy Choge, clinched the seat in 2002 on a Kanu ticket after displacing his father, who had quit Kanu to run on a Narc ticket. It was a hotly contested seat in the Choge household then; what with the Jimmy's younger brother Sammy also running for the seat on a Ford People ticket! Then, Jimmy sailed through because he had the support of former President Moi, who pushed him to run after he was disappointed by his father's desertion of Kanu. This time, however, Jimmy is on his own, having allied himself to ODM-Kenya, to which Moi is determinedly opposed.

The Stanford educated Kosgey makes no bones about bragging of her connections and credentials during the numerous public functions in which she has been appearing in the area. Calaiming that she wants to liberate the Aldai people from the Choge dynasty, she says her connections would only help make life better for her people.

As for her connections, she has met many high flyers in her long service as PS in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before becoming head of civil service. And sample this, she graduated from Dar es Salaam University with Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete and later graduated in her doctorate studies alongside US Secretary of  State Condoleeza Rice at the prestigious Stanford University in the US.

The race is expected to be hottest at the ODM nominations, as both Kosgey and the incumbent are gunning on the seat from the same party. However, Dr. Kosgey appears to be in a more favourable position, being closely allied to ODM luminary Kalonzo Musyoka, with whom she worked closely at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the Moi era.

Whoever wins will be pitted against Jimmy's uncle, Sammy Choge, who had set his sights on running on a Kanu ticket, but has yet to declare where he stands, following court decision that returned Kanu leadership to the Uhuru Kenyatta faction of the party.

Other contestants for the seat include North Rift chairman of the Kenya Institute of Management Julius Barno, Maj (Rtd) D.K Kipyego and Pius Kidombo.