Titanic battle looms in Elgeyo Marakwet as Kiptanui opts out
By Wycliffe Kipsang, March 16, 2022A bruising political battle looms in Keiyo South in Elgeyo Marakwet after a gubernatorial candidate opted for the parliamentary seat.
Jackson Kiptanui, who succeeded former minister Nicholas Biwott serving two terms, opted for the parliamentary seat and backed former Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet for the governorship seat after talks with elders.
Kiptanui will battle it out for the UDA ticket with the incumbent Daniel Rono alias ‘Kamlesh’ and Gideon Kimaiyo alias ‘Sonko’. Rono beat Kimaiyo in the 2017 General Election.
Kimaiyo, who calls himself ‘Mbunge Wa Raia’ unveiled his parliamentary bid over the weekend at his Kaptarkok home where he urged opponents to prepare for a tough political duel.
“I want to bring in fresh blood to the leadership of Keiyo South. My areas of focus will be agriculture. We will also ensure all needy children get enough bursaries to continue with their education,” said Kimaiyo.
Rono has dared his opponents to prepare for a tough battle for the UDA ticket come next month. “My development track record speaks volumes. Let them come and the people will have the final say. There are of projects we want to come back and compete.”
Kiptanui has pledged to return and compete pending development projects he initiated during his tenure.
“We will come back and continue from where I left. Our region is endowed with enormous resources especially in dairy farming and we want to tap this fully for the benefit of our people,” Kiptanui told People Daily in an interview.
He said he arrived at the decision to pull out of the governor’s race after ‘consulting widely’.
Boinnet and Kiptanui are from the same village in Keiyo South and analysts are of the opinion that had both vied for the governorship, it would have reduced their chances of clinching the UDA ticket as it would have split the vote. Boinnet has pledged to transform the county into a model for devolution in the country.
“If elected, my administration will help tap enormous potential in agriculture and tourism. We will also look for a lasting solution to the perennial cattle rustling menace in Kerio Valley which is scaring away potential investors,” said Boinnet.
Others who have stepped down in favour of Boinnet include former Keiyo North MP Lucas Chepkiton, former Sasini MD Moses Changwony and Elizabeth Keitany, a local woman leader.