Jubilee governor hopefuls target lecturers to boost image

Mr Stanley Kiptis, Jubilee’s nominee for Baringo governorship celebrates his victory in the primaries with residents of Kabarnet town on April 25. He has picked Moi University lecturer Jacob Chepkwony as his running mate. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Jubilee’s candidate in Nandi, Mr Stephen Sang, and his Baringo counterpart, Mr Stanley Kiptis, have both picked university lecturers as their deputies-to-be.
  • Mr Sang is in his early 30s and was often chided for being too young ahead of the primaries.
  • Mr Kiptis has now picked Moi University lecturer, Mr Jacob Chepkwony, from Seretunin in Baringo Central as his running mate.

Jubilee nominees for governors’ seats in the North Rift have rushed to pick academicians as their running mates as they seek to present a learned and able team to the voters ahead of the August elections.

The party’s candidate in Nandi, Mr Stephen Sang, and his Baringo counterpart, Mr Stanley Kiptis, have both picked university lecturers as their deputies-to-be, as they seek to seal weakness identified by their opponents in the primaries.

Both had faced questions on their readiness to lead the counties owing to their age and inexperience respectively.

Their choices now point to an effort to push back those accusations.

Mr Sang is in his early 30s and was often chided for being too young ahead of the primaries.

INEXPERIENCED

Mr Kiptis, a former Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Baringo branch secretary, was accused of being too inexperienced to handle county matters.

Both sailed through in the primaries despite the questions on their abilities.

Mr Kiptis has now picked Moi University lecturer, Mr Jacob Chepkwony, from Seretunin in Baringo Central as his running mate.

Mr Chepkwony was unveiled on Monday last week during the issuance of certificates to Jubilee nominees at the Kabarnet show ground.

Mr Chepkwony is the director of Vocational Studies at the Ministry of Education and a part time lecturer at the university.

Mr Kiptis said he was ready to begin working and take the county to greater heights of development.

PROFESSIONAL'S HAND

He revealed that pressure has been mounting on him over who would be his running mate.

“After wide consultations with my committee, we arrived at one candidate out of the nine we had shortlisted and I want to make it clear that the appointed candidate is the best who can deliver.

“It is not me who appointed him but a number of professionals from the region saw him fit,” said Mr Kiptis.

However, a number of people have questioned his choice, saying the county cannot be led only by those in the teaching profession.

A resident, Mr Cheben Chebon, said locals were not happy with the choice, claiming that Mr Kiptis made the wrong choice.

BIGGEST MISTAKE

“Mr Kiptis made the biggest mistake by nominating a teacher to be his deputy. I foresee a Baringo in jeopardy because all along we expected somebody from a different profession and we are now seeing that he is committing a mistake like his predecessor Mr Benjamin Cheboi who appointed teachers in his entire Cabinet,” said Mr Chebon.

He also said the gubernatorial aspirant should have considered somebody from the minority Ilchamus community in Baringo South.

But some professionals have supported the candidate, saying he is best-suited for the position.

According to Mr Solomon Komen, another resident of Marigat, the deputy governor should not be judged by his profession or the community he comes from, but on his ability to deliver services.

“People need to outgrow the tribal lines. The aspect of the appointee being a teacher initially should not be used against him because he has since advanced to other professions and, if given a chance, can deliver,” said Mr Komen.

SENIOR LECTURER

In Nandi, Mr Sang, who could become the youngest governor in the country in August, also picked a Moi University senior lecturer as his running mate.

Mr Sang, who floored political heavyweights, including former Cabinet ministers Henry Kosgey, Felix Koskei and the incumbent Cleophas Lagat, has unveiled Ms Yulita Mitei as his running mate on Friday.

Dr Mitei, too, was a contestant in the Jubilee Party gubernatorial primaries in which Mr Sang emerged victorious.

Mr Sang said that his administration recognises the role played by women in leadership.

He settled on Dr Mitei because of her academic excellence and leadership skills exhibited in different roles at the university.

“Women have for a long time been left behind in leadership despite playing a crucial role in nation building. My administration will bring them on board,” Mr Sang told the Nation.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Dr Mitei was the chairperson of the Disability Mainstreaming Programme at the university.

Women in the North Rift have commended Mr Sang for appointing one of their own as his running mate.

“We are delighted to note that Senator Sang has been at the forefront in advocating equal opportunities between men and women.

“We are happy that he is committed to empowering women who have for a long time been despised in leadership,” said Ms Janet Rotich, a women’s leader in the region.

UNIFYING FACTOR

She adds: “At the university, Mitei was a unifying factor who upheld decorum befitting a leader, which earned her the respect of both students and staff.”

During the party primaries, Mr Sang garnered 85,971 votes against his closest rival Mr Kosgey who garnered 41,084 votes and Koskei, third. The incumbent, Mr Lagat, came a distant fourth, with 14,119 votes.

In the senate race, little known Samson Cherarkey, a lawyer, garnered 67,434 votes to emerge victorious against Bonevus Tenai who got 24,216 votes.

Charles Barchigei was third with 23,472 votes.