The Trans Nzoia gubernatorial race has attracted seven candidates, all of them seeking to get votes from the 398,981 registered voters.
One of the seven candidates is a 30-year-old Timothy Kiplagat Korir – an Actuarial Science graduate of the University of Nairobi (UoN), 2020 cohort.
He is the only youth candidate in the crowded race.
What is conspicuous with Korir’s campaigns is that while his opponents are traversing the county using a fleet of high-end vehicles, you will always find him using a 125cc motorbike which he says does not consume much fuel.
Korir, an independent candidate, has caught the attention of Trans Nzoia locals for his unique dress code.
In every event and campaign trail, he puts on a godfather hat, a baby pink blazer and either maroon or navy-blue khaki trousers.
In an interview with Uasin Gishu News, the youthful gubernatorial candidate said he has a clearly outlined seven-pronged transformative manifesto for the people of Trans Nzoia, with the support of his running mate Joymercy Barasa.
Barasa is from Kiminini Constituency.
“I am the only youth in this race. I believe this is the season for fresh blood in our politics for us to realize the development we have been yearning for in this county. We cannot transform this county if we keep on electing visionless people,” Korir says.
Appearing at position two in the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial ballot paper, the 30-year-old says he chose a sling as his symbol to liberate the county from the entanglement of poverty.
“My symbol is David’s sling. As we are speaking, I am rotating it and I will release it on 9 August. The Goliath of poverty and retrogression will definitely fall. Being at the second place on the ballot paper has a prophetic meaning that I will be the second Governor of Trans Nzoia,” he jokes.
Timothy Korir, who is not a family man, says by using the motorbike, he is able to interact with people and get the real issues that affect them as well as know the state of Trans Nzoia roads.
“This motorbike has enabled me to know what our people are going through. I am people’s project because the electorates sometimes support my campaigns by fueling my motorbike,” he tells Uasin Gishu News.
He is promising to make Trans Nzoia a model county in Kenya, where other county bosses will visit for benchmarking.
Timothy Korir manifesto
“The difference between me and the other candidates is courage, confidence and a clear vision of making Trans Nzoia a Singapore in Kenya. I am telling you, other Governors will frequent here to learn from us,” he said.
Agricultural transformation is top on his agenda where he intends to lobby for the construction of a fertilizer manufacturing company to reduce the cost of crop production in the agriculturally viable county.
“The fertilizer plant will create employment for our jobless youths. We also plan to set up factories so that our farmers can add value to their crops,” Korir said.
Through his Talent Development agenda, Korir, born and raised in Kapsitwet village, has a plan of constructing at least one stadium in each sub-county to tap and nurture talents as well as introducing a county league to be run by the county as a way of developing untapped talents.
He reveals that his government will establish a Governor’s scholarship that will target bright but needy students in the county.
“We will also double the bursary fund kitty to support more vulnerable pupils to complete their education. We shall also support Early Childhood Education by establishing a proper ECDE teachers’ career growth guideline and in infrastructure,” he said.
On health, Timothy Korir says his government will construct a laboratory in each health facility, design an effective drug delivery system, invest in an adequate and motivated health workforce with proper job security and invest in preventive health care systems at the grassroots.
Asked why he chose to run on an independent ticket, Korir was quick to state that political parties in Kenya lack democracy and are used by owners as cash cows.
“Our political parties have a deficiency of democracy. Tickets are given to the highest bidders. Again registering a political party is a costly affair that I resorted to run as an independent candidate,” he noted.
Korir is a firm advocate of gender mainstreaming and believes in participatory leadership.
“I have already demonstrated that my government will take care of the interests of women by picking a female running mate; in my government, youths will come first followed by women,” he said.
The ambitious youth will battle out with Kiminini Member of Parliament Chris Wamalwa (FORD Kenya), former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya (DAP-K), Jim Nduruchi Wilfred Muraya (Usawa party), Ben Wafula (Independent) and Wycliffe Eshiwani also on Independent candidate.
Congratulations mweshimiwa koril Timothy for your manifesto