IEBC clears Tim Kipchumba for Elgeyo Marakwet Senate race

Elgeyo Marakwet senatorial candidate Tim Kipchumba displays his IEBC clearance certificate in Iten on December 6, 2022. [Stephen Rutto, Standard]

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has cleared lawyer Tim Kipchumba of the Party for Peace and Development, to vie for the Elgeyo Marakwet Senate seat.

Mr Kipchumba will battle it out with President William Ruto's UDA candidate William Kisang in the Senate by-election slated for January 5, 2023.

Mr Kisang who was the UDA candidate in the Marakwet West parliamentary race lost to lawyer Timothy Kipchumba an independent candidate.

Party for Peace and Development is an affiliate of Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

The race to succeed Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has also attracted Jerotich Seii (Safina Party), Matthew Tuigong (Independent), and Timothy Tanui (The New Democrats).

In a statement, after receiving the IEBC clearance certificate, Mr Kipchumba said: "This by-election is an opportunity for Elgeyo Marakwet to see the ethos of our president, where every hustler deserves a fair chance. The choice of the political party shows the focus on the two most critical needs in Elgeyo Market County; peace and development."

He expressed confidence that IEBC will deliver a free, fair and credible election.

"On successful election, I will work with my colleagues in the Senate to streamline the process of nominations, in the Elections Act, to ensure that no other young potential leader will be denied a chance to lead this nation," he added.

Kipchumba outlined five key areas of his manifesto; quality education, transforming farmers into astute entrepreneurs, creating an enabling environment for job creation and doing business, talent export for young professionals and using development to bring peace to Kerio Valley, which holds huge potential as an agriculture and tourism hub.

He is a Mandela Washington Fellow 2016 and 2017 and co-founded Questworks, a real estate and solar technology firm.

Kipchumba a British Council Future Member and 2019 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeeper, describes himself as a solar and real estate developer and has written two books. He was named Business Daily's 2015-17 Top 40/40.

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