EX-CS Keter confident of winning Kericho UDA ticket, calls for peace

Immediate former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter on Thursday cast his vote at Kapmasoo Primary school in the Belgut sub-county during the  UDA nomination exercise.

Keter who was accompanied by his wife Winny Keter during the early hours of the nominations urged voters to ensure peace prevails in the Kericho polling centres.

He challenged both those who will win and lose the nominations to maintain peace.

Eric Mutai, believed to be Keter's main opponent, voted at Chebwagan in the Bureti sub-county.

Mutai equally expressed confidence in winning the nomination ticket and the August 9, polls.

The UDA nominations hit a snag in Kericho after some voters failed to get their names on the party register.

UDA nomination officials manning Kipsigis County Council polling centre had only a party membership register.

Whereas it was agreed that the IEBC register is used for the nomination exercise regardless of party affiliation, those who have their names in the IEBC and are not in the UDA register were not allowed to vote.

At the Kipsisgis County council polling centre, only the UDA membership register was availed.

Their names (agents) were in the party register as opposed to other voters whose names were not captured during the initial stages of a membership recruitment drive.

A heated argument ensued between those manning the Kipsigis County council polling centre after they were advised to verify their names with IEBC.

That argument did not hold water since IEBC are not a party to the nominations exercise.

Disappointed voters who wanted to take part in the UDA exercise exited the polling station after their names could not be traced in the party register.

Others saw it as a plot to rig the nominations.

"If those manning the polling centres were sincere enough and had no ill motive, they should have operated with both IEBC and UDA registers” A voter who sought anonymity said.

Other UDA gubernatorial aspirants include James Sang and Kericho Deputy Governor Lily Ngok.

Engineers Samuel Rotich and Elijah Maru who are running as independent candidates will face the UDA nominees during the August 9 polls.