Governor Jackson Mandago has asked residents of Uasin Gishu County to vote for candidates vying for various seats on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.
Mandago who is a UDA nominee for the Uasin Gishu Senate seat says by supporting all UDA candidates, the locals with be teaming up to ensure a strong government that will be formed by Deputy President William Ruto.
“Wananchi tunawaomba twende kwa safari moja kwa chama cha UDA kuanzia MCA mpaka gavana na urais,” Mandago told the locals.
This loosely translates to, “I urge locals that we all go in one journey in UDA party by supporting candidates from MCA to Governor and President.”
Mandago made the remarks on Sunday at the Central Primary School grounds during the Uasin Gishu UDA Nominees Thanksgiving and Peace Prayer Service.
Calls for voters to support UDA candidates in Uasin Gishu come at a time there has been a rise in the number of candidates vying as independents in the county.
Almost all top seats have at least one independent candidate, with Mandago having two in the Senate seat race – lawyer Kipchumba Karori and broadcaster Robert Kemei, both of whom he beat during the UDA nominations in April.
In the gubernatorial contest, billionaire businessman Zedekiah Kiprop Bundotich alias Buzeki is vying as an independent candidate.
He will face off with the UDA nominee Jonathan Bii Chelilim alias Koti Moja.
There are also independent candidates vying for the Member of Parliament seats in Turbo, Kesses, Kapseret, Ainabkoi, and Moiben – three of who are incumbents that opted not to join UDA (Dr. Swarup Misha – Kesses MP, William Chepkut – Ainabkoi MP and Silas Tiren – Moiben MP).
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And concerning Deputy President William Ruto’s pick of Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate, Mandago said as leaders in the North Rift, they fully support the decision.
“As leaders and locals from Rift Valley, we support Gachagua as our running mate. We will be on that journey and we ask that let us all support the team,” said the vocal county boss.