Governor Cleophas Lagat, MPs boycott URP talks

Nandi County Governor Cleophas Lagat (centre), his deputy, Dominic Biwott (right), Nandi County Assembly Majority Leader Samuel Sawe, and members of the Nandi County Assembly during a press conference at Eden Springs Hotel in Kapsabet Town on September 9, 2014. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Nandi Governor Cleophas Lagat and five Nandi MPs on Thursday boycotted a United Republican Party (URP) reconciliation meeting aimed at forging a common position on the referendum debate.

The meeting was organised by the local URP office at a Kapsabet hotel.

The MPs who boycotted the URP party meeting in Kapsabet are Elijah Lagat (Chesumei), Cornelius Serem (Aldai), Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills ), Alex Kosgey (Emgwen) and Julius Meli (Tindiret).

Deputy Governor Dominic Biwott, Nandi County Assembly Speaker Edwin Cheluget and Majority Leader Samuel Sawe attended the meeting.

PARALLEL DEMONSTRATIONS

And drama ensued in Kapsabet Town after two parallel demonstrations were held, one by supporters of the governor and the other by backers of Senator Stephen Sang, both of whom are opposed to the referendum push.

Transport along the Kapsabet-Namgoi road was paralyzed as the demonstrators carrying placards blocked the highway.

Nandi County URP party executive officer David Kemboi told the Nation that Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei had been identified as the President's point man in Nandi County and was mandated to bring together leaders elected on the URP party ticket to take a common stand on the referendum.

“Nandi County is the deciding factor for Kalenjin and Rift Valley politics, and although Mr Koskei is not a politician, he had been directed by the President and his deputy to hold a meeting with MPs, MCAs and the senator," he claimed.