Jeremiah Kiplang’at

Having unsuccessfully fronted a governor candidate in Uasin Gishu County in 2017, Deputy President William Ruto appears to have taken a different approach. 

This time round the DP has stood away, at least for now, from what is quickly turning out to be one of the most open governor races in Rift Valley.

During a recent tour to the county, the DP made it clear that he would not interfere with voters’ choices. 

He, however, urged voters to elect those who will prioritise his 2022 pet project, the Bottom-Up Economic model, and are willing to fully implement its policies once elected.

With Governor Jackson Mandago serving his last months in office, there is no clear frontrunner to replace him, as  those who have declared interest are still struggling to garner support across the largely cosmopolitan county. 

Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno has not expressed interest in the seat.

Those who have already shown interest in replacing Mandago include Bundotich Kiprop alias Buzeki, Jonathan Bii alias Koti Moja, Julius Bitok, Soy MP Caleb Kositany and Vescah Kangogo.

Mandago has already announced his bid to contest for the Senate seat. He, is however, facing opposition from a number of quarters.

Second time

Buzeki and Bitok will be trying their luck for the county’s top seat for a second time. 

 The aspirants have already unleashed their manifestos, and shared what they intend to do differently from the outgoing administration.

Buzeki has fronted radical measures including setting up a new county headquarters outside the town to free up space for the anticipated city status if elected.

 He also plans to move Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital from town centre to its proposed new site in Kiplombe to ease congestion in the central business district.

 “Given an opportunity, I will set up a new county headquarters outside the central business district so that the iconic and historic town hall is improved to host Eldoret city headquarters,” said Buzeki.

He added: “We will set up Eldoret City Industrial Park somewhere around Maili Tisa.”

Buzeki is yet to declare his party of choice after leaving Chama Cha Mashinani. Although he has indicated he might vie as an independent candidate.

 The businessman said his government will also create space for other vital investments like setting up hotels and conference facilities. 

“If we get land outside the CBD we will bring investors to put up modern conference and hospitality facilities.

It will be widening opportunities and expanding town facilities and scope. Let us stretch our imagination and vision beyond the obvious,” he added.

Campaign content

 Bitok was in 2013 portrayed as the DP’s stooge by opponents who were keen to capitalise on the belief that anyone with Ruto’s blessings would never be elected governor.

 He lost to Mandago, a greenhorn, who not only endeared himself to voters with campaign content around boosting maize and cattle farming but also distanced himself from Ruto, a trick that paid off handsomely.

Mandago employed the same trick in 2017 but with the baggage of an incumbent, he ran into headwinds that almost derailed his bid. 

Buzeki suffered similar  fate in 2017 when he was branded Ruto man. His supporters believe it cost him the seat despite presenting a serious bid to oust Mandago.

 “We must make farming a profit-making enterprise. No resident of Uasin Gishu will be in the streets looking for bursaries nor a graduate will be in offices begging for jobs yet we have huge tracts of land and an international airport lying idle.

We have a huge untapped potential in our midst,” said Bitok, who was appointed ambassador to Pakistan by President Uhuru Kenyatta after losing in 2013.

Bii is a veteran politician who, has sought leadership opportunities without success.

For a long time, he faced off with DP Ruto for the Eldoret North parliamentary seat and lost on all occasions largely because he vied on Kanu, a less popular party in the region.

This time, however, he has declared his full support for Ruto’s presidential bid and placed his cards on winning the United Democratic Alliance ticket for the governor’s seat.

 He is considered an outsider owing to his past party affiliations but he believes he has cleansed himself of the past and is ready to toe Ruto’s line.

Other aspirants

Apart from Buzeki, all the other aspirants will be seeking UDA’s ticket in nominations planned for next April.

Philip Chebunet, a political commentator, said the party one vies on, experience in leadership and agility will determine who becomes governor.

“Ruto has declared he will not interfere. Mandago himself is a candidate (for Senate) and he will not interfere.

He is busy with his campaigns. The seat will be open for those seeking it,” he told People Daily.

 So far, maize, wheat and dairy farming is once again top agenda for the candidates.

Maize farmers have particularly suffered in the last three years after the government suspended purchase of the cereals following a scandal that rocked the National Cereals and Produce Board.

 The quest to elevate Eldoret to a city has also crept into the agenda of most candidates, some promising to pursue it within the first few months of their victory.

The other challenge has been the dominance of one community in the county’s top leadership.

The Nandi, being the dominant community, has occupied governorship in the last two terms but it has come under a ton of criticism this time round for fronting a member from the community despite a gentleman’s agreement to support a Keiyo.