Jubilee’s Mandago now endorses Nasa aspirant

Uasin Gishu County politics has taken a fresh twist after Governor Jackson Mandago and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi of Jubilee threw their weight behind Nasa’s Charles Abwonji for the cosmopolitan Langas ward seat.

On Friday at Langas Primary School grounds, Mr Mandago and Mr Sudi’s endorsement saw three candidates affiliated to the Opposition’s Nasa drop their bid to back Mr Abwonji.

BUNDOTICH

Mr Mohammed Makhaya (ANC), Mr John Bikeri (CCM) and Mr Eric Mogeni (independent) pledged to support the candidate.

Mr Abwonji, a 34 year-old businessman, will now face-off against Jubilee’s Francis Muya (the incumbent) among other contestants during next month’s polls.

The two accused Mr Muya of working with their rivals gubernatorial aspirant Bundotich Kiprop (Buzeki) and Kanu’s Kapseret parliamentary aspirant John Rono.

TRIBAL

They also accused Huruma ward MCA Peter Chomba, who is seeking re-election, of working with Mr Buzeki.

“They have been holding meetings and going around claiming that I am tribal.

"That is not true, the whole of 2013 I served with my deputy because an inclusive cabinet composed of all tribes was rejected.

"I have always ensured that there is equitable distribution of resources to all communities,” Mr Mandago said, adding that he had employed people from all communities.

ENDORSE
They said although they backed Jubilee’s presidential flag-bearer President Uhuru Kenyatta, it was their democratic right to support anybody.

“Isn’t he a Kenyan? Is it wrong if we back him or for Nasa to back Mandago? In the last two weeks, we talked to other candidates and agreed to back one candidate,” he said.

The latest move, aimed at wooing minority groups in the county, follows Wednesday’s Nasa endorsement of Governor Mandago.