Trouble is brewing between Soy Member of Parliament David Kiplagat and Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim alias Koti Moja.
This is after the MP accused Koti Moja of hiring social media bloggers and political brokers to discredit him and other Uasin Gishu leaders.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on December 30, 2022, Kiplagat further claimed that for the last three months, the governor’s allies have been moving around his constituency, in what he has described as a smear campaign against him.
He has linked the move to 2027 politics.
“It’s now the norm for about three of his political brokers to be given official county government vehicles to roam around functions in soy spewing unprintable statements against myself,” the Soy MP said in part of his statement.
The UDA legislator, who coincidentally is the MP for the county boss singled out Chief Officer Nominee Eliud Chemaget as an individual leading Koti Moja’s social media smear campaign against him.
He also shared WhatsApp posts alleged to have been made by Chemaget, targeting him.
In one of the posts, a number saved as Chemaget says “We’re dealing with DK accordingly, Chelilim ni president wa kaunti, lazima aheshimiwe,”
There are also WhatsApp posts shared by the legislator targeting Kesses MP CPA Julius Ruto and County Woman MP Gladys Boss Shollei.
Service delivery
The latest move to be targeted, the MP says, is following his decision to host 10 North Rift legislators at his home on Thursday.
MPs that he hosted are Reuben Kiborek (Mogotio), CPA Julius Rutto (Kesses), Adams Kipsanai (Keiyo North), Gideon Maiyo (Keiyo South), Wakili Toroitich Mutai (Marakwet West), Jose Lelmengit (Emgwen), Joseph Makilap (Baringo North), Abraham Kirwa (Mosop), and Alfred Mutai of Kuresoi North.
MP Kiplagat has now challenged the governor to tame his team, and focus on service delivery.
“Find for your team something of economic value to engage on and not following and discrediting leaders in the name of campaigning for you for 2027 re-election,” the legislator said in the post.
“2027 will come and go, what is important is to capture this golden opportunity and deliver Nguzo Kumi manifesto to the people of uasin gishu and we the members of parliament will play our role,” he added.
Further, Kiplagat noted that Chemaget is no longer fit to hold public office based on posts he has been making on social media.
The Chief Officer nominees are yet to be vetted and approved by the County Assembly.
