Sunkuli was stealth political operator during Moi days
While Andrew Leteipa ole Sunkuli, a publisher and businessman, first came to the limelight when he ran for the Narok senate seat in 2013, he had been a behind-the scene's operator during the regime of late Daniel Moi.
A man of deep pockets, Sunkuli caused a stir in 2013 when he ran against his brother, former Internal Security Minister Julius Sunkuli and came a close second behind Stephen Ntutu of Jubilee.
Sunkuli popularised campaigns using choppers at a time it was rare, managing to reach the remotest corners of Narok county and earning himself the nickname Chopper.
After the polls, Sunkuli, who belongs to the Moitanik Clan, took a low profile.
Early this year, he reactivated his networks as he prepared to run for the Narok senate seat, and was openly associated with Raila Odinga, Azimio la Umoja Movement, before yesterday’s move where he was named Kalonzo Musyoka’s running mate.
Some of the books he has authored include ‘Dictionary of Oral Literature’ and The Hero and the Dream. Sunkuli became Kalonzo choice after the former vice president jumped ship from the Azimio-One Kenya coalition when he missed out on the coalition’s running mate slot.
In a phone interview with Sunkuli after he was unveiled he said: “It came as a shock when I received a phone call from the former Vice President, I was shocked because, in a blink of an eye, I was thrust into the national limelight.”
The 58-year-old holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a postgraduate degree in publishing and business management.
He went to St Joseph Primary School Kilgoris, Kilgoris Secondary school for his O levels and later to Cardinal Otunga High School for his A levels. He later joined Kenyatta University.
