• It was businessman Buzeki's second run for governor. He narrowly lost to Mandago in 2017; DP Ruto demanded six-piece voting this time.
• He had refused to join Ruto's UDA after quitting Isaac Rutto's CCM when his party leader sided with the DP.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
Uasin Gishu independent governor candidate Bundotich Kiprop Buzeki conceded defeat on Friday, as he became among the bigwigs in North Rift to fall.
Deputy President William Ruto's UDA again prevailed.
Buzeki lost to UDA's Jonathan Bii, popularly known as Koti Moja because people jokingly said he owned only one jacket, appealing to the common man.
In results declared by county returning officer Irene Mutai, Bii polled 221,036 votes against Buzeki’s 127,013.
William Kirwa of UDM was third in the governor race after polling 6,143.
“The great people of Uasin Gishu have spoken. Your decision has been communicated at the ballot. We had our say of Uongozi ni Sera but the majority had their way through universal suffrage,”Buzeki said.
He said he had congratulated Governor-elect Bii.
“You have our support and prayers as you take over this noble task. We wish you well," Buzeki said.
He thanked his supporters for overwhelming support.
"We won the ideological war but lost the election battle,” he said. Buzeki has pledged to continue supporting the economic and social needs of residents.
“Politics is now behind us. Let us now get out to work and develop our county," Buzeki said. It was his second loss of the governor's seat. He lost to Jackson Mandago in 2017.
This time, outgoing Mandago polled 252,800 votes to win the Senate seat, trouncing independent Robert Kemei who got 94,875 votes.
In the woman representative race, Gladys Boss Shollei polled 292,154 votes, defeating Dorcas Kemboi of ODM who got 54, 742 votes. She retained her woman rep seat.
UDA also got most of the seats in the county that is home to DP Ruto.
In Nandi, Governor Stephen Sang, who is a close ally of Ruto, retained his seat. He garnered more than 230,000 votes against former Governor Cleophas Lagat who polled 53,000 votes.
“I thank the great people of Nandi for giving us a chance to serve them again and also thank all our competitors. Let’s now focus on taking our county forward,” Sang said.
In Elgeyo Marakwet, Wesley Rotich of UDA, who has been deputy governor, defeated Anthony Chelimo of the National Vision Party.
Rotich got 147, 706 votes, Chelimo 11,759.
Former Governor Alex Tolgos of Jubilee lost his Senate bid to incumbent and Ruto ally Kipchumba Murkomen who won a third term.
Murkomen polled 141,091 votes, while Tolgos got 20,684 votes.
It was a clean sweep for UDA in the region as almost all independent candidates lost battles against DP Ruto’s side. The bigwigs who fell in the region included outgoing MP Alfred Keter, William Chepkut, Silas Tiren, Dr Swarup Mishra, Vincent Tuwei, James Murgor and William Kisang.
“The IEBC has done commendable work and going forward we want such an openness and effective way of handling elections," Mandago said.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission labelled Uasin Gishu a hot spot for possible election violence, which usually follows outcomes.
“Our people have shamed those who thought there would be violence and we will continue to shame them even after the elections,” Mandago said.
Religious leaders too called for continued peace as presidential results are announced.
(Edited by V. Graham)