A section of candidates vying for various seats in Uasin Gishu on an independent ticket has dismissed their competitors who have labelled them as allied to Azimio.
There has been a sustained effort among UDA candidates in the county to convince locals to vote against independents.
One of the strategies the UDA candidates are using to discourage voters from supporting those vying on an independent ticket is to label them as allied to Azimio.
Uasin Gishu is predominantly a UDA stronghold and by invoking the Azimio name, the candidates hope the ground will shift in their favour.
But according to the Uasin Gishu gubernatorial candidate on an independent ticket Zedekiah Kiprop Buzeki, those branding them as supporting Azimio are misleading the public.
“The issue of saying independent candidates are in Azimio is pure nonsense. Those guys peddling that narrative are scam bags,” Buzeki says.
He noted that some of the politicians spreading the lies are current legislators who played a key role in passing the amendments to the Elections Act of 2011, which provides for independent candidates.
Independent candidates in Uasin Gishu
“An independent candidate is an independent candidate. We don’t represent any party,” says the billionaire businessman.
He is battling UDA’s Jonathan Bii Chelilim, alias Koti Moja in the Uasin Gishu gubernatorial race, which also has William Kirwa of UDM.
Robert Kemei, another independent candidate in Uasin Gishu shares similar sentiments as those of Buzeki.
The broadcaster vying for the Uasin Gishu Senate seat maintains independent candidates are neither allied to Azimio nor Kenya Kwanza.
“Independent is 100 per cent independent. We are not in Azimio and we are not in Kenya Kwanza,” says Arap Kemei.
He is facing Governor Jackson Mandago in the Senate seat race. Mandago has been leading a UDA team in the push for six-piece voting in Uasin Gishu.
The ‘suit’ vote call was recently reinforced by UDA party leader Dr William Ruto during a visit to the North Rift.
DP Ruto called on locals to vote for UDA candidates alone.
“All over the country from Eastern, Coast, Ukambani and Central, Kenyans are voting for UDA candidates, why should it be only here that you will vote for an independent?” said the second in command.
Almost all elective seats in Uasin Gishu have an independent candidate save for the County Woman Member of Parliament race.
