With August 9 fast-approaching, players across the political divide are leaving nothing to chance as they gear up one of Kenya's competitive election.

Azimio's Raila Odinga and Kenya Kwanza’s William Ruto are among the four presidential candidates in the race to become Kenya’s fifth president. Recent polls have indicated that the two are frontrunners in the race with a thin margin between them.

The two camps have assembled a team of experts who are expected to be the ones calling the shots throughout the election period. They include IT experts, spokespersons, and chief agents. 

Azimio One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga presents his concerns to IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Sunday, June 5, 2022. IEBC

Kenyans.co.ke takes a look at some of the key individuals expected to be in the limelight in the next few days.

1. George Njoroge- Azimio’s IT Guru

George Njoroge is an information and technology expert whose prowess in the domain has been proven in Kenya and Africa at large.  He was picked by Azimio to offer IT services to the campaigns of Raila Odinga. Njoroge will also monitor the tallying and transmission of results on behalf of Raila’s camp.

His rich decorated resume put him among the well-placed individuals for the job. He is the founder of East Africa Data Handlers which is one of the prominent computer forensics and data handling companies in Africa. 

Njoroge, a graduate of Stanford University, has over 10 years of experience in IT, specializing in computer forensics. His services are expected to be vital in an election system that will rely on IT transmission. 

2. Davis Chirchir

Davis Chirchir, a former cabinet secretary, is a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto. He served in the defunct Interim Independent Electoral Commission(IIEC), an election body that preceded the current commission. 

 Chirchir has experience in the IT field. In 2017, Chirchir represented Jubile party as the chief agent at the Bomas of Kenya national tallying center. 

3. Prof Kithure Kindiki

The Tharaka Nithi Senator is also a man to watch in the upcoming elections. Kindiki, a lawyer by profession, was appointed as Kenya Kwanza’s chief agent. He has been a close confidant of William Ruto since the latter’s case at the International Criminal Court- ICC, inThe Hague.

As the chief agent, he will be monitoring the process closely on behalf of the Ruto-led camp. 

4. Saitabao Ole Kanchory 

Satibao Kanchory is the appointed chief agent for the Azimio la Umoja team. He will be assisted by Nyeri deputy governor Dr. Caroline Karugu. 

Kanchory has been representing Azimio in forums organized by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission - IEBC.

5. Hussein Muhammed

The journalist turned communication consultant also makes the list of the men to watch in the upcoming elections. Hussein is the director of communications at the William Samoei Ruto-WSR center.

Hussein has been the mouthpiece of William and has played an active role in Kenya Kwanza’s media relations.  

6. Prof Makau Mutua

Prof Makau Mutua, a legal scholar, is also a key man to watch in the presidential elections. The former law professor at Buffalo Law School is the spokesman of  Raila Odinga. He has been issuing communique on behalf on behalf of Raila Odinga.  

Professor Makau Mutua at a past event. FACEBOOK