Uasin Gishu residents have expressed joy after Governor Jonathan Bii met with Immigration PS Julius Bitok, signaling an end to hostilities following a fierce election contest in 2022.
Bitok unsuccessfully ran against the governor in a divisive campaign that residents feared would degenerate into poor services, especially after the PS landed a job in the national government.
But both leaders have since warmed up to each other and promised to put aside their political differences and work for the benefit of wananchi.
On Sunday, Bii paid a courtesy call on the PS in his Nairobi office where the two agreed to focus on development programmes benefitting the residents of Uasin Gishu and the country.
“As leaders, we have to work together and support President William Ruto because at the moment there is no time for politics. Our people want to be served and that is it. Time for politics will come later," Bitok said.
Bii said he had no grudges about the last elections.
“I am focusing on my Nguzo Kumi (10-point) development agenda in Uasin Gishu and I have to work with everyone including PS Bitok so that we all succeed and improve the lives of our people,” the governor said.
Residents of Eldoret led by Benjamin Leting, Abraham Cheruiyot and Celestine Chelagat welcomed the latest meeting between Bii and Bitok,saying it would foster unity in the county.
“We were so pleased to see the two leaders who were bitter rivals putting aside their differences and meeting to discuss development that will benefit us, the residents of Uasin Gishu,” Leting said.
He said although the two were rivals in the last election, the county now needs both of them to deliver on their mandate for the residents to benefit in terms of development.
Cheruiyot said Governor Bii had proved to be a leader interested in unity and development as is PS Bitok and that as residents they would support them to focus on their work.
“We want them to focus on improving the lives of our people and creating job opportunities for our people especially the youth,” Cheruiyot said.
Chelagat said the governor and the PS had already taken steps that would help implement key projects in Uasin Gishu, which is President Ruto’s home county.
“The President needs support right from the county and from all leaders so that he can also revive our ailing economy because we know he means well for our country,” Cheruiyot said.
Bitok and Bii two month ago met during a fundraiser for the SDA church at Ziwa where they declared that they would join hands to work for the residents of the county and other Kenyans because the last election was no longer a concern for the public.
The latest meeting in Nairobi was a follow-up after the engagement at Ziwa.
“I want to ask Governor Bii that he should not have fear that I will go round the county to undermine him. Even though we were rivals, I also know that leadership comes from God,” Bitok said at the Ziwa meeting.
The PS said what God had decided was final and he would wait for another time, but he thanked President Ruto for appointing him to serve as PS for Immigration and Citizen Services.
“I will do my best to serve Kenyans in that position. I have already made efforts to ensure that the people of Uasin Gishu, including some from Ziwa, get jobs in government so that they join other Kenyans in public service,” he said.
Bii said he was grateful to residents for electing him and pledged to work with his former rivals to serve them.
