Political showdown looms in Nandi as Kosgey declares interest in governor’s seat

A major political showdown is in the offing in Nandi County after former Cabinet Minister Henry Kosgey announced his interest in the governor’s seat in next year’s polls.

Mr Kosgey, a former Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chairman, will now take the battle to incumbent Dr Cleophas Lagat and former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei who has also thrown his hat into the ring.

Mr Kosgey, a former Tinderet Member of Parliament, declared his interest during the opening of the new Elwak Catholic Parish in Nandi Hills presided over by Eldoret Catholic Bishop Cornelius Korir at the weekend.

The former minister said he will rally for the governor’s seat on a Jubilee Party ticket which his two main opponents are also eying.

For the last three months, local leaders have claimed that Mr Kosgey was not keen on joining the Jubilee Party.

But the former industrialization minister said he was only waiting for the dissolution of Jubilee constituent parties into the Jubilee Party before immersing himself into party politics.

Mr Kosgey is a veteran in politics, first joining Parliament as Tinderet MP in 1979 on a Kanu ticket, defeating incumbent firebrand politician Jean-Marie Seroney.

At the time, his son, Alex Kosgey, who is the current Emgwen MP, wasn’t born.

Mr Kosgey, 68, held several cabinet posts — transport and communications, co-operative development, culture and social services, environment and natural resources, tourism, science and technology, education and industrialization — under the Moi and Kibaki regimes.

He was among six prominent Kenyans who faced crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court after the 2007-08 post-election violence.

But he was cleared of the charges alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta, former police chief Hussein Ali and former civil service head Francis Muthaura.

Cases against Deputy President William Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua Sang are still on-going in The Hague.

On Sunday, Mr Kosgey said if elected governor, he would ensure all public funds sent from Treasury to the county are used for intended development projects and that he would support the development of local professionals.

“The Nandi community fought against British colonial rule for 11 years and the community has also produced world champions in athletics but today, we are a divided people and have been reduced to begging,” Mr Kosgey said.

The former minister said he will continue protecting the interests of the Nandi people but added that people from other communities would be allowed to serve in and benefit from the Nandi County Government.

“I empowered youths to get university and college education and helped a majority of them from the Kalenjin community and the Rift Valley to get jobs when I served as minister in the Moi and Kibaki governments. My agenda for Nandi is education and economic empowerment of its people,” Mr Kosgey said.

He noted that the current political differences between Nandi leaders had seen the county achieve little and called for unity so that the county could attract investments.

He asked the church, leaders and members of the Nandi community to continue praying for Mr Ruto and Mr Sang so they, like him, could be cleared of the charges against them at the ICC because he knew “the kind of suffering they are going through.”