Oscar Sudi: The new political bully or loyal foot soldier?

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi. [File, Standard] Controversial Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi is a man on a mission. Over the past three years, the outspoken lawmaker has been on a collision course with fellow legislators from the North Rift. He has been accused by a section of MPs from the region and their allies of bullying elected peers, acting as a political prefect and campaigning against them ahead of the 2027 General Election. Sudi kicked off empowerment initiatives beyond Kapseret, efforts that have since morphed into rabble-rousing political forays. Tensions escalated after other MPs-particularly from Uasin Gishu County-questioned why their colleague was planning programmes in their constituencies without involving them. Sudi, however, has insisted that he is free to empower young people anywhere in the country. Soy MP David Kiplagat, Kesses MP Julius Rutto, Marakwet West MP Timothy Toroitich and Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago are now firmly in Sudi's crosshairs. The legislators accuse Sudi of creating the impression that he speaks on behalf of President William Ruto, a strategy they say is designed to instil fear among elected leaders. Most recently, an audacious Sudi launched fresh attacks on fellow lawmakers, urging voters to reject leaders he believes are insufficiently supportive of Kenya Kwanza policies. Last Sunday, he asked residents of Marakwet West to reject their MP, Timothy Toroitich, for failing to attend a fundraiser in Cheptongei, where the Kapseret legislator was the chief guest. According to Sudi, Toroitich, who was elected as an independent MP, was an opposition mole within the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance. Addressing a crowd gathered for an interdenominational church service and fundraiser, Sudi said it was disrespectful for Toroitich to skip the event. "All of us, including Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, are gathered here for a fundraiser, yet the area MP thinks he is special. We want this leader to go home in 2027," Sudi told the crowd. Toroitich responded by sharing a song praising his development record over the past three years. His allies urged Sudi to stop bullying elected leaders and focus on serving his constituents. Kiplagat said Sudi had yet to match Toroitich's performance in debate and legislation in the National Assembly. "You have been in Parliament for 15 years, yet we cannot see your record. What will you tell your grandchildren you did when you were given the opportunity to serve as an MP?" Kiplagat asked. He added: "Sudi should stop bullying and demeaning our leaders in public. Elgeyo Marakwet voters are intelligent enough to elect leaders of their choice. Take your politics of endorsement to Uasin Gishu." Kiplagat said Sudi was not their political prefect and was not speaking on behalf of President Ruto. He accused the Kapseret MP of dividing Uasin Gishu leaders into two factions for selfish interests and attempting to manage succession politics in the Rift Valley ahead of President Ruto's retirement in 2032. "No one should dictate who will be elected in 2027. You are only months away from losing your seat. You should pack and go," Kiplagat said. He added that Uasin Gishu MPs had initially allowed Sudi to conduct youth empowerment initiatives in their constituencies, but accused him of abusing the goodwill by campaigning against them. Sudi has also accused Kesses MP Julius Rutto of lacking integrity, alleging that his conduct came under scrutiny during his tenure as county executive for finance under Senator Mandago's governorship. According to Sudi, Rutto was unfit to serve, accusing him of questionable conduct and of "crying like a baby" whenever he faced political criticism. "I want to tell Kiplagat and Rutto not to start a war, and when I respond, you become angry and cry like babies. I've told you to stop the hangovers. I told you to leave Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii alone, but you want to control affairs of the county, yet there is an elected governor," Sudi said in a warning a week ago. Rutto, in response, accused Sudi of threatening opponents with violence and asked Interior Murkomen to investigate claims of intimidation. "This is President Ruto's county, and he asked us to unite everyone in Uasin Gishu. Why should a leader divide us when we have been directed to pursue unity?" Rutto asked. Sudi fired back, questioning the development record of Mandago's tenure as governor. Sudi, now serving his third term as Kapseret MP, was accused last September by Baringo residents of interfering with senatorial by-elections held in November. Last February, a fundraiser for victims of a fire that destroyed property in Moi's Bridge town, Uasin Gishu, descended into a heated exchange between Sudi and Governor Bii on one side and Soy MP on the other. At the fundraiser, he declared that a leader like Kiplagat was unfit to hold office. Chaos erupted as youths disrupted the event, briefly halting proceedings attended by Governors Bii (Uasin Gishu), Wisley Rotich (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Simon Kachapin (West Pokot), as well as MPs Didimus Barasa (Kimilili), Eric Wamumbi (Mathira) and nominated MP Joseph Wainaina. Tensions persisted after Kiplagat accused Sudi of attempting to dictate proceedings at an event in his constituency. Sudi insisted he had the right to organise fundraisers anywhere in the country.

Oscar Sudi: The new political bully or loyal foot soldier?

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