Race to succeed Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Eng Alex Tolgos has taken a new twist in favor of former Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett.
This is after a section of elders from the Keiyo community endorsed the former IG.
The endorsement was announced following a closed-door meeting at Kenmosa Resort, on the outskirts of Eldoret town, on Friday, February 4, 2022.
During the meeting, a number of politicians that were eyeing the gubernatorial seat also agreed to step down in favor of Boinet.
Among those who stepped down include former MPs Jackson Kiptanui, Lukas Chepkitony, Moses Changwony, and Elizabeth Keitany.
The new developments put Boinett among the favorites to win the UDA party ticket.
He will however still have to battle among others the current Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor Wisley Rotich and former The Eldoret National Polytechnic Chief Principal Josphat Sawe.
Until the latest endorsement of Boinett from the Keiyo elders, and the stepping down of other aspirants, the youthful Rotich was the front-runner in flying the UDA ticket flag for the gubernatorial seat.
News of the endorsement is likely to shake up the Elgeyo Marakwet gubernatorial contest.
The county has always had a highly charged political contest pitting the Keiyo and Marakwet – the two dominant communities.
It is only recently that Boinett resigned as the Tourism Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) to beat the elections’ law deadline requiring public servants to quit office ahead of the August 9 poll.
Before his appointment as Inspector General of the National Police Service in 2015, Joseph Boinett served in the Kenyan National Intelligence Service (NIS).
He is a holder of an International Studies and Diplomacy degree from the Washington International University – an unaccredited institution in the British Virgin Islands.
He replaced David Kimaiyo as the police IG.
Kimaiyo has since retired and is also seeking to be the next Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, a second attempt after he was unsuccessful in 2017.
