bY George Sayagie

Deputy President William Ruto faces a litmus test in Narok after three candidates from his party for governorship disagreed to back one of them and insisted on a face-off in the ballot during party primaries.

Patrick ole Ntutu (former CAS Labour), MPs Gabriel ole Tongoyo (Narok West) and Soipan Kudate (Woman Representative) were summoned to the DP’s Karen home yesterday  but they failed to agree.

Each aspirant had appointed two spokespersons to present their grievances to the DP, with former defunct Narok County Council boss Solomon ole Moriaso and former Councilor Mzee Kwaet representing  Ntutu while  Salau Karkarr  held fort for Tongoyo, and William Nairuko for Kudate.  Sources said the DP has been pushing Tongoyo and Kudate to pull out in favour of Ntutu.

The three ferried 50 of their supporters each to the meeting but Tongoyo and Kudate differed with  Ntutu’s  position that the candidate be picked through consensus and insisted on the ballot in April.

 “After representatives from the three sides presented their suggestions, the DP thanked all of us and requested the supporters to leave the three leaders behind for a meeting whose outcome would be announced in due course,” said a source at the meeting. 

Others present were MPs Korei Lemein (Narok South) Johan Ngeno (Emurua Dikirr) and Lemanken Aramat (Narok East).

The DP has been negotiating with the candidates to forestall a possible fallout, as articulated by Nick Kupai one of Tongoyo’s  chief campaigners. Ntutu enjoys  the support governor Tunai, MP Johanna Ngeno (Emurua Dikirr) and powerful Narok County MCA Kuya Ole Kijabe 

Meanwhile, Azimio La Umoja appears to have settled on Narok North MP  Moitalel ole Kenta.

  after ODM leader Raila Odinga persuaded two other aspirants; Principal secretary for Youth affairs Charles OIe Sunkuli and  Commission on Revenue Allocation member Kishando ole Suuji to back him. 

Apart from the Purko clan, the county hosts Keekonyokie, ildamat, Loita, Uasin Ngishu, Siria and Moitanik clans.

The Kipsigis community also constitutes 100,000 votes in the county.