• Ten people sustained minor injuries when UDA team clashed with supporters of MP William Chepkut who is an independent.
• Resistance against six-piece voting has been intense in Elgeyo Marakwet county.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
DP William Ruto’s allies in the North Rift have teamed up to push for the six-piece voting pattern for UDA candidates in the August 9 polls.
The move follows a strong challenge by independent candidates in most areas.
Ten people sustained minor injuries when the UDA team clashed with supporters of Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut who is defending his seat as an independent candidate.
Resistance to the six-piece pattern in Elgeyo Marakwet county is widespread.
The allies including UDA candidates have teamed up for joint campaigns' hoping to dwarf strong inroads made by the independent candidates.
Governor Jackson Mandago of Uasin Gishu, his Nandi counterpart Stephen Sang and Senator for Elgeyo Marakwet Kipchumba Murkomen are leading teams pushing for the election of UDA candidates.
“We are asking our people in this region to vote for UDA candidates because we believe DP Ruto will form the next government and he needs enough foot soldiers to implement the bottom up agenda," Mandago said.
More than 200 independents are vying for seats including governor, senator, woman rep, MP and MCA in the counties, including Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet, among others.
They include businessman Bundotich Kiprop Buzeki, Dr Cleophas Lagat, Samson Changwony and Stanley Kiptis who are vying for governor in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo, respectively.
MP seats where independent candidates are posing a serious threat to UDA men include Nandi Hills, Kesses, Moiben, Mosop, Soy and Marakwet West, among others.
Mandago, Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei and UDA governor candidate Jonathan Bii led the campaigns in Kesses where they urged voters to select UDA candidate Julius Ruto. They told them to reject MP Dr Swarup Mishra.
Mandago also urged residents to reject Buzeki, terming him a leader who thrives on lies, propaganda and incitement.
Buzeki and Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, who is also defending his seat as an independent, have urged residents to elect leaders based on performance and not parties.
Mandago told Uasin Gishu residents not to be intimidated and threatened by politicians propagating lies for selfish gains.
He emphasised that Uasin Gishu is a peaceful county and anyone claiming that there is a plot to cause violence is trying to instil fear.
He spoke at Burnt Forest, Kaptingia, Cherus, Tumoge, Chesunet and Cheboiywo Kesses constituencies during a Kenya Kwanza political rally.
The county boss also asked residents to record anyone making inciteful statements so action is taken against them.
(Edited by V. Graham)