When Wisley Rotich expressed interest in the Elgeyo-Marakwet County gubernatorial seat, many laughed him off as a greenhorn in politics compared to his opponents who were more experienced with well-oiled campaigns.

 But today, Rotich, 34, who was the Governor Alex Tolgos deputy is basking in glory after he clinched the seat on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.

 Interestingly, many had dismissed Rotich, a banker by profession as an underdog in terms of age, experience and financial muscle.

At some point, some of his opponents send a delegation of elders to him urging him to drop his bid until ‘his right time comes’.

 Rotich garnered 147,705 votes while Anthony Chelimo of the National Vision Party (NVP) was second with 11,759 votes.

 Perhaps the youthful governor-elect’s biggest victory was during the UDA primaries in April where he beat political heavyweights.

 He had faced off during the primaries with former Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet, university lecturer Loice Kipkorir, former Eldoret National Polytechnic Principal Josphat Sawe and Sammy Tangus, an engineer.

Rotich has pledged to serve the people of Elgeyo-Marakwet county diligently adding that his administration will be all inclusive.  “We have many communities residing in this county. I will ensure that no one will feel sidelined during my tenure,” Rotich told his supporters after he was announced the winner.

He said his main agenda in the first 100 days in office will be to look for a lasting solution to the perennial cattle rustling menace which has left hundreds of people dead in the porous Kerio Valley.

“I want to reach out to leaders from the warring communities and look into the root cause if this problem which has also scared away potential investors,” said Rotich.

Tolgos (Jubilee) who was seeking the senate seat after completing his second and last term lost to the incumbent Kipchumba Murkomen who won a third term after garnering 141,091 votes against his 20,684.

 Tolgos’ loss served abig blow to Azimio-One Kenya which has been making inroads into the region.