From Wetangula, Tim Wanyonyi to Moses Kuria and Aloise Kinyanjui... when family members become political rivals

As the country draws closer to the August General Election, various prominent family members have come out to freely exercise their freedom of association by aligning themselves with the country’s top opposing camps in the upcoming election – Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya, setting the stage for a sibling showdown. 

In what can be a demonstration of how the Kenyan democracy has matured, some of these family members have not only pitched camps on opposing sides but are also vying against each other.

In some cases, couples have also found themselves in a scenario where they are supporting different candidates

Here are some of the family members who are going toe to toe in the coming elections.

Tim Wanyonyi and Moses Wetangula

Though they have been in the same political formation in the last two elections, Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi and his brother Moses Wetang’ula, the Bungoma senator will head to this coming General Election in two opposing wings, and depending on the election outcome, one of them will enjoy the trappings of power.

Wanyonyi is seeking to retain his MP seat on an ODM party ticket – a constituent party within the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance – while Wetang’ula; one of the co-principals in Kenya Kwanza will be seeking to retain his Bungoma senate seat on Ford Kenya ticket.

Moses Kuria and Aloise Kinyanjui

Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) Party leader Moses Kuria and his younger brother Aloice Kinyanjui have in the past spearheaded President Uhuru Kenyatta’s agenda, especially in Mt Kenya.

 The two, however, went their separate ways when MP Kuria joined the Kenya Kwanza camp and declared his support for Deputy President while Aloise remained in Jubilee.

Aloise is currently contesting for the Juja MP seat, where he will face Kuria’s former ally, George Koimburi, who won the UDA nominations in Juja.

Okoth Obado and Hellen Odhiambo

The political division in the Migori County governor's household is an interesting one as Governor Okoth Obado has sworn his allegiance to UDA presidential candidate. William Ruto while his wife Hellen Odhiambo is campaigning for a Raila Odinga presidency.

The political division in the county boss’ home has become so heated that Hellen denounced her husband’s name; Obado after the latter was appointed Kenya Kwanza Nyanza regional coordinator.

 “Raila is vying for president, I am vying as a woman representative but he has my vote… do not associate me with the governor’s legacy and anything to do with him,” Hellen who is also vying for Migori Women Rep seat said.

Peris Tobiko and Keriako Tobiko

Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko and his sister, Kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko might enjoy a cordial relationship as siblings, but when it comes to politics, the two are arch-rivals.

Peris has not only been on the receiving end of her brother Keriako - an adamant supporter of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya – for supporting Ruto’s presidential bid but also her husband Kishanto Ole Suuji.

Sometime last year Suuji and Peris clashed over Ruto’s rally that was organized in their home in Kajiado. Suuji chased away a team affiliated with Ruto from their homes before filing a complaint at the police station accusing the UDA presidential candidate and his allies of intruding on his property.

Keriako on the other side has also been at crossroads with Peris over remarks he made while referring to Ruto as a “mere clerk”.

His remarks sparked a war of words between allies of DP Ruto and those of Raila prompting Peris to, later on, apologize on behalf of her brother.

Prof Kithure Kindiki and Prof Isaiah Kindiki

A few weeks ago, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential flag bearer set tongues wagging after he appointed Prof Isiah Kindiki as one of his chief agents hours after Ruto also appointed Isaiah’s brother Senator Kithure Kindiki to lead his camp in a similar capacity.

The two brothers have been on opposing sides for years, with the senator missing out on the Kenya Kwanza running mate slot to Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua and announcing that he would take leave from elective politics after the August 9 elections.

Ong’odo Were and Hillary Kiplang'at Kosgei

These two MPs who are from rival political parties are more than colleagues in the August House; they are in-laws.

Kasipula MP Charles Ong’odo Were of the ODM party and Kipkelion MP Kipkelio West MP Hillary Kiplang'at Kosgei of UDA  are both first-time legislators and both served in the same Environment and Natural Resources Committee in the 12th Parliament.

The political rivalry between the two was first put to in 2017 when their father-in-law's burial when they both attended the ceremony while accompanied by large delegations of supporters. At the event, the master of ceremony made the mourners aware of the predicament that existed between the two politicians and hence, no political pronouncements were made.

Their political rivalry was put to test for a second time during a standoff in Parliament following the nullification of presidential elections and ODM vowed not to recognize the election of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Though the two lawmakers have faced several hurdles in their line of work due to their differences in political allegiances they say their relationship has withered the storm.

"Those moments did not separate the closeness we had with Were, we knew that politically we were from different sides. But we used to have tea meet and forget whether there is ODM or Jubilee and just become family," Kiplang'at told KTN during an interview.

Mutahi Ngunyi and David Chirchir

With the political temperatures already high in the country, Mutahi Mgunyi has become a critical member of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s think tank in matters of politics and governance.

The outspoken political analyst is, however, a brother-in-law to David Chirchir; the Chief of Staff in the Deputy President’s Office and a key strategist in Kenya Kwanza. The two are married to the daughters of Ambassador Ernest Cheruiyot Lang’at.

The political split has not spared the first family either. President Uhuru Kenyatta and his cousin Captain Kung’u Muigai have been on the same political side for some time now. Still, in this coming election, the two have decided to take different paths.

President Uhuru, who is the chairman of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya council is supporting his handshake partner and Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

Kung’u on the other hand has been pushing the GEMA community to rally behind Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential bid.

In a previous interview, Kung’u noted that he could not support Raila presidency just like his cousin since he felt that the Kikuyu community has a political debt to pay the deputy president.

"When that statement of yangu kumi yake kumi was made, it raised a lot of heat and I convened a meeting as the patron of the Kikuyu Council elders. We adopted the proclamation and that is where we stand to date because when an elder says something, they can never go back on their word," Kung'u stated as reported by a local daily.

Though he is in opposite political formation, Kung’u has maintained that he has nothing but total respect for the president and the former prime minister.