A total of 11,312 residents are likely to vote today in the Nyangores Ward by-election, Bomet, in a poll that will redefine South Rift politics.
Outspoken leaders who have broken ranks with Deputy President William Ruto are backing People’s Patriotic Party of Kenya candidate Andrew Maritim against Jubilee’s Richard Leitich.
The PPPK’s campaign is led by outspoken Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto, Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, his West Pokot counterpart John Lonyangapuo and Zipporah Kittony (nominated), Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno and Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat Kanu and PPPK (Mashinani) have joined hands against Jubilee, in what could reshape the political landscape in a vote-rich region.
The Jubilee campaigns were spearheaded by Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Joyce Laboso, Senators Stephen Sang (Nandi), Wilfred Lesan (Bomet), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Beatrice Elachi (nominated), Liza Chelule (nominated), MPs Paul Bii (Chepalungu), Benard Bett (Bomet East), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete), Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes) Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi Woman representative), Moses Cheboi (Kuresoi North), Soipan Kudate (Narok Woman representative), Sammy Koech (Konoin) and Cecilia Ng’etich (Bomet Woman rep), among others.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Cecilia Towett in a road crash in Narok county in October last year.
The by-election will also serve as a litmus test for the Jubilee Party in the region, as it plans to seek re-election in next year’s general election.
The Deputy President, who is behind the formation of the Jubilee Party, commands heavy support from the Rift Valley region and has asked all the affiliate parties to fold and join the new party, but a defiant Bomet Governor Rutto has opposed the move and instead formed a new party.
Rutto has joined hands with a growing number of rebels in the Rift Valley to challenge the new ruling party and directives that the United Republican Party leaders and supporters all transit to it.
On Wednesday, the last day of the campaigns, Rutto and Moi conducted intensive campaigns using two helicopters while the Jubilee brigade, led by Dr Laboso, travelled by four-wheel vehicles to various venues.
Both Jubilee and PPPK were backed by caravans with boda boda riders ferrying supporters.
Rutto and Moi demanded that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission conduct a free and fair poll in the by-election and claimed they were aware of schemes to deploy the state machinery to harass and intimidate voters.
Moi said, “There is a lot of wastage of public funds by the national government and that is why we are demanding that resources must be devolved. Devolution must be embraced as per the spirit and the letter of the constitution.”