Franklin Bett, Magerer Langat battle for Jubilee ticket in Kericho by-election

Next Saturday will be a critical moment for two former ODM officials and four other aspirants contesting the Kericho senatorial seat on the Jubilee Alliance Party ticket.

The recently formed Jubilee Party, which is yet to be registered, will field a candidate under the Jubilee Alliance Party.

Former ODM Elections Board chairman Franklin Bett and the party’s former Executive Director Magerer Langat will face off on January 16 as they fight for the party’s nod ahead of March 7 by-election.

Jubilee Party Secretary General Veronica Maina said the party, affiliated to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, has approved six candidates to contest the seat, which fell vacant following the appointment of Charles Keter as Energy Cabinet Secretary.

Other aspirants fighting for Jubilee ticket are Chepkwony Sammy Kipkosgey, Cheruiyot Aoron Kiptoiyot, Festus Kirui and Kipngetich Kirui.

“The party will hold a consultative meeting with the aspirants at the party headquarters in preparation for primaries to be held on January 16,” said Ms Maina.

Securing the alliance’s ticket would perhaps be the hardest hurdle for candidates eyeing the seat since Mr Ruto’s United Republican Party (URP) enjoys huge support in the area, and it will be supporting the Jubilee Party candidate.

Jubilee Party Interim National Governing Council co-chair Noah Wekesa said since JAP is an affiliate party of Jubilee, the Jubilee Party will campaign for whoever will clinch the alliance ticket.

“Jubilee Party is going to field a candidate under the Jubilee Alliance Party since it is a registered party affiliated to Jubilee family,” said Mr Wekesa.

But even as the race continues to gain momentum, Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) remains undecided on whether to field a candidate in Kericho, an area considered a Jubilee stronghold.

Winning strategy

Already, CORD is working on a strategy to recapture the Malindi parliamentary seat, which fell vacant following the appointment of Dan Kazungu as Mining Cabinet Secretary.

Asked whether the Opposition will field a candidate in Kericho, ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohammed (Suna East MP) said there were top level discussions over the matter.

“There are top level discussions ongoing on the matter and CORD will soon release a communication to that effect,” said Mohammed. (See separate story)

The party’s National Elections Board (NEB) has, however, invited applications for the Malindi Parliamentary by-election. NEB chairperson Judith Pareno said applications are open until Monday January 11.

“Aspirants should present their applications to the party headquarters (Orange House) Nairobi, or Malindi ODM offices,” said Pareno.

The Orange party has indicated the vetting of the aspirants will be held on Tuesday while successful candidates will be subjected to nomination on Saturday January 16.

The Malindi contest is set to trigger a new round of CORD-Jubilee face off as each side puts its best feet forward to prove a point ahead of the 2017 General Election.