Former Marakwet West Member of Parliament William Kisang has won the Elgeyo Marakwet UDA Senate ticket.
Kisang emerged victorious in a hotly contested race that had attracted over 10 candidates after garnering 2,136 votes.
His main rivals Tim Kipchumba and Jonah Tanui finished closed second and third after they garnered 26,756 and 26,735 votes respectively.
Activist Jerotich Seii had 8,540 votes.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) held its nomination for the Elgeyo Marakwet Senate seat on November 26, 2022.
However, the exercise was marred by low voter turnout.
Already Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has taken to his verified Twitter handle to congratulate Kisang for winning the UDA ticket.
“Congratulations Hon. William kisang on your nomination as UDA Nominee for Elgeyo Marakwet county Senatorial by-elections 2023,” Cherargei tweeted.
Kisang will now fly the UDA ticket for the Elgeyo Marakwet Senate by-election set for January 5, 2023.
He has already been awarded a provisional certificate by the nomination’s Returning Officer.
The by-election will be seeking to replace immediate former Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen. Murkomen has since been appointed Transport Cabinet Secretary.
Irregularities
But even as the former MP bagged the UDA ticket, one of his main competitors – Tim Kipchumba has hinted at challenging the results.
In a tweet, Kipchumba claimed many of his supporters did not get an opportunity to vote and that ballot papers were removed from polling stations as early as 2 pm.
The youthful lawyer said he will make a comprehensive statement on the just concluded UDA nominations soon.
“I’m sorry for so many of our voters who turned up at 6am and could only vote at noon, only for some of them to turn back at 2pm and find that ballot papers had run out. Will make a comprehensive statement soon,” Tim Kipchumba tweeted on November 27, 2022.
“Thank 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!” he added in another tweet.
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!
— Tim Kipchumba (@TimKipchumba) November 27, 2022
Kandara UDA nomination results
The UDA party had also held a nomination for the Kandara Constituency, whose former MP Alice Wahome also got a Cabinet Secretary appointment.
Chege Njuguna won the nomination after he received 7,826 votes beating 13 other aspirants.
The second runner-up was Titus Mbuchu who garnered 5,335 and was followed by Injinia Stephen Mwaura who garnered 4, 414 votes.
Njuguna vied for the Kandara MP seat on the August 9 general election on a Jubilee ticket but finished second behind Wahome.
