Inside Politics

Row erupts in Elgeyo Marakwet after Seii daughter endorsed

Friday, October 14th, 2022 08:40 | By
Row erupts in Elgeyo Marakwet after Seii daughter endorsed
Photo collage of Jerotich Seii and Jonah Tanui.

A row has erupted over the move by two Kenya Kwanza leaders to endorse a human rights activist to succeed outgoing Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.

County residents who spoke to People Daily yesterday faulted the move by Uasin-Gishu Woman representative Gladys Boss Shollei and Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale to endorse Jerotich Seii.

 “Gone are the days of endorsement. The people should be given free will to choose the leaders of their choice devoid of pressure from any quarters,” said Joseph Rono, a resident.

 Khalwale and Ms Shollei took to social media to endorse Ms Seii who is seeking to replace Murkomen who has been nominated by President William Ruto as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Roads and Public Works Cabinet Secretary.

 “Jerotich Seii is a vocal human rights defender and was part of the Linda Katiba movement. I wholeheartedly endorse her candidature for the position of senator of Elgeyo-Marakwet. With the support of Elgeyo-Marakwet residents, Jerotich will be a welcome addition to parliament,” Ms Shollei posted on her Twitter handle.

 Khalwale on his part posted: “Certainly my opinion carries no electoral premium whatsoever in Elgeyo-Marakwet but I think Jerotich Seii presents a worthy replacement for the cabinet-bound Murkomen”.

 The move has not gone down well with the electorate who feel it aunts to entrench political dictatorship and coerce them to vote for specific leaders.

 This comes as jostling for the position is in top gear with aspirants eyeing the seat already hitting the road even before the seat is even declared vacant with more than 20 aspirants seeking the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.

 Apart from Ms Seii, others interested in the seat are former MPs William Kisang (Marakwet West) and Daniel Rono (Keiyo South). Also eyeing the seat is former Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui who was succeeded by Rono. Others are Soy MCA Jonah Tanui, Lawrence Mutwol, former nominated MCA Neddy Kiptoo, lawyer Tim Kipchumba, first County assembly speaker Albert Kochei and Eliud Kiptoo.

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