The Elgeyo Marakwet senate UDA nomination was anticipated to be a do-or-die contest among aspirants.
And as predicted, it turned out to be a three-horse race pitting forker Marakwet West MP William Kisang, real estate developer Tim Kipchumba and Keiyo South MCA JK Tanui.
But as fate will have it, it is William Kisang that was declared the winner.
Kisang garnered 28,136 votes to win the UDA ticket ahead of Tim Kipchumba who had 26,756 votes and JK Tanui (26,735 votes).
The former legislator has already been handed the provisional UDA certificate.
This is even as Tim Kipchumba cried foul over the nomination exercise.
In a tweet, the youthful politician said the nomination had countless irregularities.
Statement soon
He further claimed some of his supporters did not get the opportunity to vote.
“Thank you you Elgeyomarakwet! Thanks to our team and fellow aspirants! We articulated a better vision. But the UDA primaries, even as well intended to be Free and Fair by H.E @WilliamsRuto were marked by countless irregularities. We’ll issue statement soon!” Kipchumba said in one of the tweets.
“Voters in especially in Marakwet East ( my own polling station) had to turn back yesterday after they run out of ballots,” he added.
Who what options does he have?
While Kipchumba has said he will issue a statement soon, there is a talk among his supporters that he should go independent.
This is a viable route for the youthful politician.
But, he should hope it does not turn out to be political suicide, given the region’s strong affiliation to the UDA party.
However, the fact that a number of individuals vied on an independent ticket and won and election in the county against UDA candidates should be morale booster for him – if he feels the nomination was not free and fair.
Tim Kipchumba also has the option of seeking a repeat of the nomination by filing an appeal to the party’s disputes resolution Commitee.
The third and last option for him is to concede defeat and hope to come back stronger in 2027.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senate by-election is set for January 5, 2023.
