Chama cha Mashinani (CCM) party leader Isaac Rutto has vowed to support the newly elected Bomet governor in discharging his mandates.
Appearing in public for the first time since the declaration of the election results, Rutto conceded defeat, saying he is not going to interfere with the running of the county.
In the poll, incumbent Governor Hillary Barchok of UDA was declared the winner after garnering 158,898 votes. Rutto got 137,323 votes.
Benard Mutai of ANC had 1,915 votes while Andrew Towett (GP) got 508 votes.
Addressing the press after a meeting with Barchok, his Kericho counterpart Eric Mutai among other elected MPs from the county, he said he had chosen not to dispute the results and instead move on.
Other leaders present were; Richard Yegon (Bomet East), Brighton Yegon (Konoin), Richard Kilel (Bomet Central), Francis Sigei (Sotik), Victor Koech alias (Chepalungu), Kapsoit MCA Paul Chirchir and Linet Chepkorir (woman representative).
"I am not that kind of a person who disputes election results or interferes with the term of elected leaders... I respect the will of the people in any election," he said.
The leaders had visited Rutto at his Tumoi home in Chepalungu upon being discharged from a Nairobi hospital where he had been admitted to since August 9.
"When I lost to the late Joyce Laboso in the 2017 election, I accepted defeat and gave her the opportunity to deliver on her pledges to the people and this was the case when I lost the Chepalungu parliament seat."
Barchok, on his part, thanked Rutto for conceding defeat, noting his administration will embrace all his opponents.
He is set to sworn into office on Thursday, August 25, at the Bomet Green Stadium. Judge Francis Gikonyo and Bomet principal magistrate Lilian Kiniale will preside over the ceremony.
The county chief who took over from Laboso following her death in 2019 will now serve his full and final term. According to the Constitution, governors can only run for two terms.
