Aspirants for Nandi governor are holding daily village meetings and tapping grassroots support with the hope of defeating Governor Stephen Sang.
They and Sang are battling for the UDA ticket, a party linked with Deputy President William Ruto.
Lawyer Allan Kosgey a leading aspirant, has caused a stir in the county where he is hosting daily village meetings that could alter the race ahead of the UDA primaries in April.
Kosgey, has unveiled a gruelling campaign programme in which he is criss-crossing the county and visiting villages and homes ahead of the primaries.
“We want to ensure the county is transformed through devolution because we have missed out on many programmes that are working in other counties,” Kosgey told residents at one of his campaign meetings in Mosop constituency.
All the aspirants are focusing on transforming the county.
Other top aspirants battling against Sang include Speaker of the assembly Joshua Kiptoo, finance expert Antipas Tirop and former Governor Dr Cleophas Lagat.
Kiptoo, who is also a lawyer, has intensified his grassroots campaigns, riding on his slogan, Fix Nandi.
Kiptoo says he is the right man to take over leadership in the county and resolve the region's challenges.
The Speaker has, however, faced hostility from some groups of residents who have been disrupting his meetings. Sources indicate the groups may be acting on behalf of one of the aspirants who accuses the speaker of spreading damaging information about him.
“I am in the race to win and no amount of intimidation will force me to let down the people of Nandi," Kiptoo said.
Analysts are predicting a tough race for the UDA ticket, seen as a two-horse race between Governor Sang and Kosgey.
The governor last week was endorsed by elders, MCAs, community leaders and other groups urging him to run for a second term.
They said their endorsement was based on what they called his commendable performance and development record in his first term.
“As residents and leaders,we know your score card is good in the last five years. That is why we have decided to endorse you for a second term so you can complete the projects you initiated," Nandi Assembly Deputy Speaker Wilson Sang said. He is the MCA for Chepkumia.
He said as MCAs, they know the county boss had implemented most of the projects and programmes approved by the assembly to benefit residents.
“We believe you are fit for a second term and we urge residents to re-elect you come August,” Sang said. He is not related to the governor.
Governor Sang expressed gratitude for the endorsement, saying he was set to complete all the programmes he had initiated.
“I will work with you as residents and leaders in this county so that we finish the work we have started and by doing so we will achieve my target of reducing poverty and improving livelihoods," he said.
(Edited by V. Graham
