Samuel Poghisio, the former West Pokot Senator, has made his move. He has officially crossed from the Kenya African National Union (KANU) to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and he is not being quiet about why. His eyes are firmly set on the West Pokot gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election, and ODM is the vehicle he has chosen to get there.
The switch marks a significant political realignment for Poghisio, who built much of his career under the KANU banner. Leaving a party is never a small decision for a politician of his standing, and the timing, with 2027 still a couple of years away, suggests he is playing a long game, looking to secure ODM's ticket early and build momentum in the county.
West Pokot now has a race worth watching. Whether Poghisio can translate his Senate experience and his new party affiliation into a winning gubernatorial bid remains the question his rivals will be studying very closely.
Originally published by AllAfrica.