• The Maritim-led faction is fronting Teresah Metto, who shelved her governor ambitions in favour of the Kenya Kwanza candidate.
• The other faction has fronted Bethuel Kipkorir Kirior, a former school principal.
Supreme Council of Nandi Community, Nandi Gaa Kaburwo, Trans Nzoia branch, is divided on who to support as the running mate of Chris Wamalwa.
Wamalwa is Kenya Kwanza Alliance governor hopeful in the county.
A growing rivalry between the two factions of the council is threatening to cripple efforts to choose Wamalwa’s running mate.
One faction is led by county chairperson Samuel Maritim and the other by county secretary Job Talam and Kwanza subbranch chairperson Joel Matelong.
The Maritim-led faction is fronting Teresah Metto, who shelved her governor ambitions in favour of the Kenya Kwanza candidate.
The other faction has fronted Bethuel Kipkorir Kirior, a former school principal.
Maritim has rejected the decision by the other faction, saying it was pre-mature to do so before involving all Kalenjin communities under the umbrella of Myoot Council of Elders.
"I do not subscribe to what was done by my county secretary and other elders. Their decision was rushed," he told the Star.
Maritim's sentiments were echoed by Cherang'any subbranch chairperson William Sawe who urged Wamalwa to allow the community to pick on a candidate suitable to all.
They threatened to take another political direction if their concerns are not addressed.
"There's still a wide window for us. We can explore other avenues where our interests will be taken care of," Sawe said.
But the Tallam-led group said Kirior was the choice of the whole Nandi community.
"What we have done is not possible to undo. We've given our blessings to Kirior and we cannot recall the blessings," Tallam said.
Matelong said the whole community will vote for Wamalwa and all other Kenya Kwanza Alliance candidates in Trans Nzoia county.
Matelong castigated those opposed to the choice of Kirior whom he said is the most suitable among all those who had expressed interest in deputising the Kiminini MP.
He said some members had resorted to using derogatory language against the elders who picked the retired principal.
"It doesn’t look good for us as a community to wash our dirty linen in the public when we know very well that Wamalwa is our bigger picture," Matelong said.
Former Cherangany MP Wesley Korir who will be flying the Kenya Kwanza party ticket in the constituency called for harmony among members of the community. He exuded confidence that a solution will be arrived at.
Edited by A.N
