Nairobi — A new political landscape was shaping up in Central Kenya yesterday, with some influential figures in President Kibaki's Cabinet losing their parliamentary seats.

Also notable in the region is the entry of three Safina candidates including two in the President's Nyeri home district. This was despite sentiments by those in his inner circle that Safina was spoiling chances for PNU.

Voters in the region sent most immediate former MPs packing, replacing them with fresh faces.

In Meru, Environment minister, Mr David Mwiraria, led Kibaki's lieutenants in packing when he lost his Imenti North seat to little known Mr Cyrus Muriuki, of DP.

The President was the only one in his Nyeri turf to retain his seat out of all the six constituencies in the district.

Information Minister, Mr Mutahi Kagwe, who has recently been warming himself into Kibaki's inner circle, lost narrowly to Safina's Kabando wa Kabando.

Kabando, a political scientist by training, overcame a well-oiled campaign by Kagwe, to capture the seat after unsuccessful bids in past elections.

This was despite Kagwe's blessing from the First Family. Several months ago, Kibaki endorsed the minister, who also had the apparent support of

First Lady Lucy Kibaki, who hails from Kagwe's Mukurweini constituency.

Kagwe was also tiptoeing towards the centre of power through connections with his father-in-law, Internal Security minister John Michuki.

Nyeri voters appeared to make a statement that they had come of age, and were past manipulation by politicians, no matter how powerful they were.

Also kicked out of Kieni was Michuki's predecessor in the Security docket, Dr Chris Ndarathi Murungaru, who lost to Mr Nemesyus Warugongo of PNU.

Murungaru had been crying foul over his defeat by Warugongo at the PNU nominations last month, which led him to seek refuge in Narc-Kenya.

With claims that a new breed of power brokers at State House were pulling strings to have him and other MPs replaced, Murungaru is among politicians in Central who regard PNU as an outfit purely cobbled together for selfish gains.

Among this circle, PNU is seen as just a vehicle to help some influential figures climb the ladder, in preparation for the Kibaki succession in 2012.

Although Safina's captain, Mr Paul Muite, failed to recapture the Kikuyu seat, he got some consolation when his party swept Mukurwe-ini, Mathira and Siakago constituencies.

In Kirinyaga Central Constituency, former State House Comptroller Matere Keriri (Safina) and outgoing MP Daniel Karaba, were floored by Ford-Kenya's John Ngata Kariuki.

Joseph Kamotho's bid for the Mathioya seat on a Safina ticket flopped when he was flogged by the PNU candidate, Mr Clement Muchiri.

Also in the Mount Kenya region, the political dynasty of former Cabinet minister Jeremiah Nyagah was crumbling in Gachoka yesterday, with PNU's Mr Mutava Musyimi heading toward the finish line, ahead of ODM's Mr Joe Nyagah.

Nyagah was the only Pentagon member who appeared to lose his parliamentary seat.