Tim Kipchumba concedes after narrowly losing to UDA candidate in Elgeyo Marakwet senator race
By evans.maritim, January 6, 2023
Party for Peace and Development (PPD) candidate in Elkeyo Marakwet senate by-election Tim Kipchumba has conceded after narrowly losing to United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate William Kisang.
In a tweet post, Kipchumba said he had called Kisang to congratulate him on his imminent win.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is yet to declare the winner in the hotly contested race.
“A few minutes to midnight yesterday, I called Sen Hon Kisang and congratulated him. I assured him of my support as my Senator & the Senator-elect of Elgeyo Marakwet.
“Kait Sait for us to support him and our Kenya Kwanza government under President H.E William Ruto,” he tweeted.
The race had attracted five candidates including former Marakwet West MP William Kisang (UDA), Timothy Tanui (The New Democrats), human rights activist Jerotich Seii (Safina), Tim Kipchumba (Party of Peace and Development), lawyer Andrew Mengich (Independent) and a 27-year-old statistician Kelvin Kemboi.
Seii has since conceded after coming a distant third in the race.
“WaKenya, those weren’t the results we had hoped for lakini asiyekubali kushindwa si mshindani. The complex world of politics isn’t for jokes,” Seii said.
UDA’s William Kisang congratulated
Congratulatory messages have since poured in for Kisang who is set to be declared the winner by the IEBC.
“Congratulations William Kisang on your election as the second senator of Elgeyo Marakwet. Thank you Elgeyo Marakwet residents for honouring Dr. William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza fraternity,” Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said.
On his part, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen congratulated Kisang and commended his opponents for the spirited campaign to clinch the seat.
“Congratulations William Kisang on your election as the second Senator of Elgeyo Marakwet. Thank you to the people of Elgeyo Marakwet for having faith in the leadership of Kenya Kwanza by voting in a UDA candidate.
“To my friend @TimKipchumba, I am very confident in your present and future contributions to the community and nation-building. That was a very good fight and your time is coming.
“To the other candidates led by @JerotichSeii, I recognize your hard work and commitment. You have made a significant contribution and you have my support and best wishes going forward. Congrats to all who made the by-elections a success by supporting your respective candidates,” the CS wrote on his Facebook page.
The seat became vacant following the appointment of Murkomen to Cabinet after serving for two terms.