Jubilee, Kanu battle shapes up ahead of by-election

Jubilee and Kanu are locked in a fierce contest ahead of a ward by-election in Nandi County.

Campaigns for the Lelmokwo/Ngechek Ward by-election are in high gear as rivals consolidate support.

The June 3 by-election comes 16 months to the General Election and has renewed rivalry between Jubilee and Kanu which peaked during the Kericho Senatorial by-election in March.

The front runners are Kanu’s Ezekiel Kipkorir Lelei, Julius Kipkosgei Arusei of Jubilee Party and Elphas Kirwa Kimego of Chama Cha Mashinane (CCM).

Each is confident of winning. However, Rift Valley bigwigs have kept off the campaigns unlike what was witnessed in the Kericho senatorial and Nyangores Ward by-elections about three months ago. Some local leaders have also termed the Lelmokwo/Ngechek by-election as “local politics whose outcome may only affect Nandi and not the region.”

However, some Jubilee Party supporters say campaigns for the party candidate have not been well coordinated.

Mr Kiprotich Cherargei, a Jubilee youth leader, claimed Senator Stephen Sang, Governor Cleophas Lagat, Women Rep Zipporah Kering and Chesumei MP Elijah Lagat in whose constituency Lelmokwo/Ngechek ward falls lack a joint strategy.

“The contest for the seat between Kanu and Jubilee is too close. Jubilee has confidence but this may be dangerous because Kanu is ahead in its door to door campaigns,” Cherargei told The Standard on Sunday.

Cherargei added: “If Kanu wins, it will not be a surprise because its supporters have been carrying out extra-ordinary campaigns. Jubilee campaigns are disoriented”.

He said Senator Sang was made to lead campaigns for the party but he had not called a joint meeting of all Jubilee leaders. He claimed the senator was doing lone campaigns.

Sang, however, said: “We are comfortable and the campaign is on track. The party sees the by-election as a local issue. Ten candidates participated in Jubilee nomination process and those who lost were persuaded to campaign for the party and they are doing it as a team.”

“Unlike the Nyangores and Kericho by-elections, there was a decision that Lelmokwo/Ngechek campaigns be localised,” said Sang.

He said issues coming up in the campaigns are local and candidates will win based on how they convince voters on how they will hold the county government accountable to ensure it delivers.

MP Lagat said campaigns for the Jubilee party candidate was delegated to the senator but that they will all be on the ground this week. The by-election was occasioned by the death of former MCA who was also Nandi County Deputy Speaker Hesbon Metto.