COUNTY POLITICS: Five aspirants hoping to become Emurua Dikirr MP

The race for the Emurua Dikirr parliamentary seat has so far attracted five aspirants seeking to dislodge incumbent Johanna Ng’eno.

The five, who are all seeking to fly the Jubilee Party’s flag in the August 8 General Election, say their desire to represent the constituency in Parliament is informed by the need to develop the region largely dominated by members of the Kipsigis community.

Weldon Mutai, John Saitoti, David Keter, Paul Tonui and Kibet Rono will, however, first battle it out in the party’s primary, which is set for next month, after which the winner will face Mr Ng’eno in the August 8 polls.

Already, there are claims that senior jubilee party officials are said to be having a soft spot for Mr Keter, a move, if proved to be true, could lead to a massive fallout, thereby handing the seat to Mr Ng’eno on a silver platter.

Sources told the Nation that the other aspirants have already been asked to drop their bid and back him, with the promise that they will be given government jobs should the Jubilee Party win the General Election.

Contacted, Mr Keter rubbished the allegations saying: “The complaints about direct tickets, endorsement and rigging by some aspirants are tactics being employed by losers. They have sensed defeat and are now resorting to all manner of allegations”.

CHALLENGERS 'ABSENT'

He says his challengers have "been absent from the ground" and can not expect to win the nominations without putting up an effort.

“It is only me and the incumbent who have been crisscrossing Emurua Dikirr campaigning vigorously. The rest have been missing in action,” he says.

He claimed that some of his challengers for the Jubilee seat are Mr Ng’eno’s “projects”.

“Their true colours will be known after the primaries,” he says.

He says Jubilee Party believes in democracy and will ensure free and fair nominations.

Mr Keter, commonly referred to as Dollarline, is a successful businessman in the petroleum industry.

In 2013, he vied for the same seat but garnered only 7,800 votes emerging second.

“In 2007, I was Mr Ng’eno’s chief campaigner. He at the time contested the Kilgoris parliamentary seat and lost,” he says.

“But we fell out in 2012 after we deferred over our choice of candidate for the Narok governorship. I supported Mr Tunai, who eventually won, while he supported Mr Joseph Musuni who was second in the contest,” he says.

He says Deputy President William Ruto will play a big role on who becomes next Member of Parliament.