• Uasin Gishu is DP Ruto’s home county and Mandago has been leading week-long joint campaigns for UDA candidates and the Kenya Kwanza team.
• All UDA candidates attended the rallies that have been going on in Turbo, Kesses, Ainabkoi, Moiben and Soy subcounties.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and UDA leaders have said the county is Deputy President William Ruto's bedroom and they have 'locked' it.
The politicians, who held a series of joint rallies in all six subcounties in the area, said all the votes from residents will go to the DP.
Uasin Gishu is DP Ruto’s home county and Mandago has been leading week-long joint campaigns for UDA candidates and the Kenya Kwanza team.
“We have agreed to all back Ruto not because his home is here or because he is Kalenjin but because he is a national leader with interests of the country in his heart. That is why he enjoys support countrywide,” Mandago said.
All UDA candidates attended the rallies that have been going on in Turbo, Kesses, Ainabkoi, Moiben and Soy subcounties.
They included governor candidate Jonathan Bii, popularly known as Koti Moja, and those vying for the MP seats.
Other UDA MP candidates in the region include Prof Phyllis Bartoo (Moiben), Julius Ruto (Kesses), Samwel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi), Janet Sitienei (Turbo) and David Kiplagat (Soy). Also, present was Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei.
Speaking in Moiben, Mandago and his team campaigned for a six-piece voting pattern for UDA candidates. He urged residents to reject independent candidates.
The six-piece call has been challenged by independent candidates in most areas.
Mandago said residents stand to benefit more from the bottom-up economic model being pushed by Kenya Kwanza team.
He urged residents to form groups and join cooperatives so they can benefit from the various hustler funds' programmes in DP Ruto’s manifesto.
UDA candidates have teamed up for joint campaigns hoping to dwarf strong inroads made by independent candidates who are vying for various seats in the region.
“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 independent candidates are vying for the various seats, including governor, senator, woman rep, MP and MCA in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet.
They include businessman Bundotich Kiprop Buzeki, Dr Cleophas Lagat, Samson Changwony and Stanley Kiptis who are vying for governor seats in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo respectively.
MP seats where independent candidates pose a serious threat to UDA men include Nandi Hills, Kesses, Moiben, Mosop, Soy and Marakwet West.
Edited by A.N