Ruto, Moi heirs supremacy war to play out in Rongai race

All eyes are on Rongai constituency today as President-Elect William Ruto’s candidate squares it out with the last standing son of second President Daniel arap Moi after the fall of his heir, Baringo senator Gideon Moi, in the August 9 election.

Kanu’s candidate Raymond Moi is facing a stiff challenge from UDA’s Paul Chebor in the election which failed to take place on August 9. Last week, senior Kenya Kwanza politicians led by Deputy President-Elect Rigathi Gachagua campaigned in Rongai.

Yesterday, Rongai Returning Officer Hilda Nasiru said preparations for the election were going on smoothly.

“Everything is in order, we have not encountered any challenge so far,” she said.

There will also be parliamentary elections in Kitui Rural, Kacheliba (West Pokot) and Pokot South.

Kitui constituency returning officer Winfred Ndoti yesterday confirmed that election materials, poll officials and security had been dispatched to 157 polling stations in Kanyangi, Kisasi, Mbitini and Yatta/Kwa Vonza wards.

“The candidates have confirmed that the ballot papers are okay and now we are distributing them across the 157 polling stations. We are urging the electorate to turn up in large numbers to elect their leader. We will have only one ballot box this time for MNA and I urge all the players to observe peace,” said Ndoti.

The by-election is expected to be a bruising battle between incumbent David Mwalika Mboni of Wiper party and former area MP Charles Nyamai of UDA.

Mwalika will cast his vote at Mbitini Primary while Nyamai is set to cast his at Kanyangi Primary.

West Pokot is seen as a UDA  turf where Ruto garnered 109,944 votes against Raila’s 63,092 votes in the August 9 election. In Pokot South, former West Pokot County Assembly Majority leader Simon Kalekem of UDA will face off with the incumbent David Pkosing Kenya Union Party and former Principal Secretary James Tekoo, an Independent candidate.

In Kacheliba, the incumbent Mark Lomunoko of UDA is running against former West Pokot Deputy Governor Titus Lotee of KUP and John Lodinyo of Kanu.

—Additional reporting by Mutuku Mwangangi and Wycliffe Kipsang