DEPUTY President William Ruto’s allies met on Monday to strategise on how to win the Kericho senator seat.
There are fears the Kipsigis, from the South Rift, could vote for Kanu candidate Paul Sang as they said they feel sidelined in job appointments.
The by-election will be held on March 7.
Former Agriculture CS Felix Koskei chaired the meeting at a Nairobi hotel.
Kalenjin professionals and youth leaders were present.
A source said Koskei said JAP candidate Aaron Cheruiyot should win the seat by a significant margin “to boost party members’ confidence”.
The Star has established that Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta chose Koskei to represent them at the meeting.
It was agreed that both the Kericho senator and Malindi MP seats belong to Jubilee.
Sources say TNA, URP, APK and UDF members attended the meeting.
Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto, Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi support Sang.
Rutto has previously disagreed with the DP over merging parties.
He formed the Mashinani Party of Kenya to serve the grassroots.
The Kericho seat fell vacant after Charles Keter, a close ally of the DP, was appointed Energy CS.
Keter is the only CS from the South Rift region.
Former Energy CS Davis Chirchir was suspended over corruption allegations last year.
Although he was later cleared, he was not retained in the government.
Agriculture CS Willy Bett and his Treasury counterpart Henry Rotich are from the North Rift.
Koskei called for constructive use of social media.
The meeting lasted five hours and discussed how to reach out to communities that feel sidelined.
Nandi Senator Stephen Sang, 33, said he is ready to hand over his “youngest senator” title to 29-year-old Cheruiyot.
Jubilee will appoint youth leaders to camp in Kericho county and Malindi town to drum up support for its candidates.
