In Summary

• Cherargei called list was a complete abuse of principles, goals of UDA to stand for the true hustler person in Nandi county.

• UDA Youth Nandi County, elders wrote to party secretary general demanding list of 28 individuals be withdrawn, process done afresh.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei who is defending his seat
CHERARGEI: Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei who is defending his seat
Image: FILE:

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang is caught up in a row over a list of 28 individuals he alone proposed to be UDA nominated MCAs.

Senator Samson Cherargei, youth leaders, Talai elders and women representatives have accused Sang of single handedly coming up with the list, ignoring worthy people.

They said 80 per cent were county employes and Sang's "cronies", arrived at without consultation with true hustlers, neither UDA members nor interest groups.

They demanded the list be withdrawn and a new process undertaken to identify worthy nominees.

Sang forwarded it to UDA headquarters without consulting other leaders and interest groups.

Cherargei called Sang's list was "a complete abuse of the principles and objectives of UDA to stand for the real hustlers in Nandi".

Governor Sang did not answer calls from the Star, nor did he respond to texts seeking comment on his proposed nominated MCAs.

“We demand UDA should not gazette the list but withdraw it so we can do the process afresh, according to the wishes of the people of Nandi," Cherargei said.

He said the governor, who is the UDA candidate defending his seat, had no mandate to come up with the list on behalf of the county.

Cherargei is also the UDA candidate defending his seat on in the August 9 polls.

The UDA Youth Nandi County Chapter and elders have written to party secretary general Veronica Maina demanding the list of 28 individuals be withdrawn.

They want the process done afresh with consultation with UDA leaders and other groups.

Youth leader Joseph Kibet said more than 80 per cent of were county employes and "cronies" of the governor who do not deserve nominations by the UDA party.

“It’s simply a list of cronies to be rewarded yet groups listed to be considered have been left out completely," Kibet said.

The Talai Council of Elders have also written to UDA, protesting against the list.

Elders' secretary Noah Kosgei said in a letter dated June 26 the Talai Laibons of Nandi had also been left out.

He said the Talai community in Kapsisiywa had been marginalised since Independence and by successive governments, including Sang's own.

Sang, who formerly served as senator, had tabled a bill to have the community compensated for colonial atrocities and marginalisation. The bill was unanimously passed by the Senate.

“We as a community proposed Canon K. Bassy be nominated as MCA and Governor Sang knows our plight. We are surprised  we were left out,"Kosgei said.

(Edited by V. Graham)

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