Uasin Gishu Senatorial aspirant Kipchumba Karori has come under immense pressure from a section of local elders over his marital status.
The elders want the youthful lawyer who is one of the front runners for the seat on Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to look for a wife first if he expects them to rally behind his bid to clinch the party ticket in the nomination exercise set for April 14.
Led by Paul Chumo,76, the elders during a meeting in Chepsaita area in Turbo constituency, told Karori that failure to abide by their advice, they will withdraw their support for his candidature for the seat that is currently held by Prof Margaret Kamar who is also the Senate Deputy Speaker.
Chumo who was flanked by more than 30 elders, said that there was no way they would elect an unmarried person to represent the interest of the devolved unit in the Senate.
“We are pleading with our son, Karori to move with speed and look for a girl to marry so that she will be welcoming visitors in his home should he be elected into office as a senator come August 9 general election,” said Chumo.
Expressing the same sentiments, another elder Patrick Kogo reiterated that it would be untenable for Kipchumba Karori to clinch the Senate seat under his current marital status which he claimed goes against the Kalenjin culture.
“Unmarried man cannot be allowed to lead the people in our culture and it would be a daunting task for Karori to convince the voters to elect him as a Senator in the coming polls unless he does the needful thing by marrying before it is too late,” said Kogo.
Despite the demand from the Kalenjin elders for the lawyer to marry before seeking an elective seat, there is nothing, constitutionally, that stops any aspirant to vie for a political seat based on his/her marital status.
Karori will be battling Governor Jackson Mandago and broadcaster Robert Kemei among others for the UDA ticket.
The winner will face off with Prof. Kamar who has of late kept a low profile. She disclosed last week during a meet the people tour in Moiben sub-county that she would defend her seat as an independent candidate in the August 9, general election.
“I have decided not to align myself to any of the political formations ahead of the August 9 polls by defending my Senate seat as an independent candidate,” said Kamar.
