Former Member of County Assembly (MCA) Evans Kapkea was yesterday sworn in as Deputy Governor of Uasin Gishu county in a ceremony that was skipped by all elected Members of Parliament from the region, save for Moiben MP Phylis Bartoo.

Kapkea will deputise Governor Jonathan Bii. He took the oath of office from Justice Robert Wananda of the Eldoret High Court at the county headquarters grounds.

Kapkea, previously an MCA for Tembelio ward, was nominated for the position on August 21.
The nomination came after the previous holder, John Barorot, resigned amid claims of a frosty relationship with Bii after two years in office.

Governor’s agenda
He had been missing from key county government functions for months, including an event where Eldoret was formally declared a city and that was attended by national and regional political leaders led by President William Ruto.

Kapkea thanked the governor for picking him and said: “I promise to be loyal and in addition undertake any assignment … with zeal.”

Governor Bii expressed hopes that his deputy will also help him fulfill his 10-point agenda that he outlined to Uasin Gishu residents during campaigns.

“I have faith in my deputy that he is going to work closely with me to deliver what we promised the people of Uasin Gishu,” Bii said.

The MPs who gave the much publicised event a wide berth were Gladys Shollei (Uasin Gishu woman rep), Oscah Sudi (Kapseret), Julius Rutto (Kessses), Janet Sitienei (Turbo), Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi) and David Kiplagat (Soy).