Political News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.
KERICHO is one of the regions in the South Rift where major shift in positions is expected as the politicians are said to be getting themselves ready to scramble of the more lucrative jobs that the new constitution has availed for the counties.
The new positions include that of the Senate and the gender representative, the county governor, deputy governor, assembly speaker and clerks.
In the agriculturally rich Kericho County the battle for the Senate seat is expected between the Belgut MP Charles Keter and the retired former deputy Chief of the General Staff Lt.Gen [retired} John Arap Koech, who is also the national chairman of the United Democratic Movement {UDM}.
THE Kericho County’s area of jurisdiction covered four parliamentary constituencies, which include Kipkellion. Ainamoi, Belgut and Konoin. And the neighboring Bomet County will cover another four constituencies of Bomet, Chepalungu and Buret,
In the 2007 general election the region voted unanimously for the ODM as the party of choice. Other parties like the former ruling KANU a party which has dominated the politics of the region for close to three decades performed dismally. The ODM swept the board clean taking all the eight parliamentary seats, all civic seats in the County, Urban and Town Councils
As far as party politics, the situation has changed drastically with the recently concluded referendum voting for the new constitution in which the majority of the voters had switched their allegiance to the Reds camp led by the Higher Education Minister William Ruto. However,four out of the eight out of the eight MPs sided with the No camp and vigorously campaigned against the new constitution. They included Julius Kones{Konoin} Isaac Ruto {Chepalungu}, Benjamin Lang’at {Ainamoi} and Charles Keter {Belgut},while other four namely Dr.Joyce Laboso {Sotik}, Franklin Bett {Buret}. Magerer Lang’t{Kipkelion} and Mrs Beatrice Kones { Bomet} backed the new constitution and campaign for the Greens camp. And the Reds carried the day, though in some places the Yes camp had lost the votes in a respectful manner.
The major issues which led to the dismal performance by the Greens camp in the region is the seemingly irreconcilable differences between the two top ODM leader Raila Odinga and his first deputy William Ruto.The differences the two party leaders has left the region in total confusion as to which party they should join. ODM is out of bound and the same is with KANU and PNU.
From the Keter’s camp, the popular talks is that Gen Koech should stand for the governorship because he will instill a lot of discipline in the county governance using his military disciplinary and his vast administrative experience.
And from the general’s camp the argument goes that the Senate seat will be more covenanted because in the tri-cameral system provided in the new constitution, the Senate will control both parliament and counties. Furthermore the argument goes that the Senate will be the supreme organs of the governance, therefore it is a suitable for the elderly people.
Gen Koech and Hon Keter have remained political arch-rivals ever since the 2007 general election when Koech launched a scathing criticism of Keter accusing him of having collaborated with his friend William Ruto and rigged him out of the ODM nomination for the Ainamoi seat.
The General further alleged that the two had conspired against and locked him out of the by-election in Ainamoi, which he had won clean. The differences led to Gen.Koech departure from the ODM in huff.But theformer Army Chief who had campaigned vigorously for Raila Odinga and the ODM during the 2007 elections insist that his UDM is working closely with ODM.
In recent weeks following the inevitable fallout between Raila Odinga and William, sources close to the UDM has confided to us that an attempt was made to reconcile Gen Koech and William Ruto so that the latter could relinquish his position of the UDM national chairmanship in a deal which could have paved the way for Ruto’s re-entry into the UDM and consequently taking over its national chairmanship. The attempt was fiercely resisted by Gen Koech resulting in other rumors making the round that an attempt is in the offing to have him ousted by his other colleagues led by the party Secretary General William Ole Kamwaro, who is said to have of late become William Ruto’s spanner boy.
Ruto off-course was one of the founders of the UDM together with the likes of Kipruto Arap Kirwa, Cyrus Jirongo and Fred Amayo. But Ruto and Jirongo were later lured back to KANU with cabinet appointment by the retired President Daniel Arap Moi.
The Eldoret North MP is said to be in a political dilemma as to which party he should join after opting out of the ODM and use it for his presidential ambition in 2012. He is said to have been advised by his handler not to desert the ODM because the time is running short and there will be no sufficient room for a new party to gain the momentum in recruiting sufficient numbers of supporters that could propel its leader to the presidency.
Sources close to Rutsays the youthful populist Kalenjin politician worry is howtohe can trustpolitician from the Mt Kenya region ever since they shirt-changed him prior to the referendum campaign. The Mt Kenya had cheated him to work against the parliamentary system, which was favored by Raila Odinga in preference of the presidential system on the promise that it would create Majimbo which could have been achieved in the three tier system. But when the two issues were debated in Parliament, the Mt Kenya group deserted him and later joined hands with Raila in campaigning for the new constitution in the Yes camp. Ruto had hoped that his arch-rival would be in the opposite camp, but when Raila readily accepted the verdict of Parliament and join the campaign for the new constitution, Ruto was baffled and hit below the belt and got the shock of his life time. He said to have vowed not to trust any politician from the Central Province.
Another political personality said to be eyeing for the Bomet Senate seat is the former Minister for Works and twice the MP for Chepalungu John Arap Koech who with the former Permanent Secretary for Lands and now the secretary of the Kalenjin Council Elders Josiah Arap Sang will battle it out for the Bomet Senate seat.
Speaking to this writer in Kericho Town Gen Koech confirmed that he would contest the County Senate seat and not that of the governor which is the imagination of his enemies.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
Bureti is in Kericho County not Bomet
Same as above, Kipkorir’s, I should say we want an updated web information; widely and extensively consult. There are people who have the correct information on practically most issues in Kericho. Especially, edit any information for grammar and taste; do not hesitate to consult me in future, no charges pliz.
I love Kericho my county, my country!!! Bravo.
1.Bureti is in kericho
2.Keter is fit for the senetorship.
3.the so called general should go for the m.p
oo my GOD HON.KETER and GEN KOECH SHOULD NOT BE APPEARING IN THE OF WEB OF BOMET COUNTY.TALK OF RUTO AND OTHERS.
You guys do not spoil our political appetite by bringing in names like Gen. Koech, because his dream of holding Kericho County leadership cannot come to light. Lets be frank, unless you want us to just bla bla bla about political issues.
As for Kericho County we want fresh blood, brains and air to go by.
We want a leader who thinks about fifty and above years of development, not militant ideologies.
Guys lets train our eyes on the persons who can do it for and with us!
Kongoi Sere Konyon, Sere Nyauwou
After my education here in Alberta September 2011,am coming to battle for governor seat in Kericho county,i started campaigning on my facebook page KERICHO COUNTY KOECH GODFREY FOR GOVERNOR. This is the time us youths of Kericho county to look politics beyond our old leaders,corruption,a fraud,embezzles,poverty,drought,education and the gap between the poor and the rich.
You cannot Legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they……….
keter should forget about kericho coz he tried belgut with poor policies, corruption and mis-management of cdf since he is benefiting only the rich.bye keter.
Wuui..do not tell us about those old political guys who think that Leadership ability in Kericho county is measured by Monies.Pardon me,i acknowledge wealth creation whose by product is Money.Please spare the youthful leaders to chart way for our beloved county.Am running for MP Ainamoi.
we should not consider reelecting these guys especially keter should go home we want to do a clean up exercise we are serious as voters shame on them
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Hi everyone i know Hon. Keter so much gen. koech is my real bro. but let them go for senetor. i agree with GK Musa 50s n above,so why dont we try Thomas k Ngeno who served COUNTY COUNCIL KIPSIGIS For 16yrs as the chairman. More so he is over 50 he has all the requirements i mean all qualifications so what else name it.
keter pliz give us a break.maybe u vie for kanjo kabianga ward of which i wont vote 4 u anyway.u r corrupt,chorindet,na madharau uwache.
None of the above have credencials to lead kericho county,though i would vote in keter as senator….my choice for the post of Governor is one prof. chepkwony(timbilwet)
Kericho is my home and find it unfair to allow political rejects to rule and continue to waste the resources that are directed to the population in this said county.for this reason and more to be disclosed later,i do present myself for the challenge to contest the senator ship position.i am qualified and an advocate practicing in the names of NGENO/BIRECH ASSOCIATES SANSORA BUILDING KERICHO AND MY CELL-PHONE IS 0710-138070
I’m a resident of kericho town having been born within the county,kipkelion constituencyn and having grandparents in bureti kapsagut in the names of lessan family of chebororek clan.
I contested for member of parliament kipkelion constituency in 2007.
let us forget the very politicians who have always made our resources to be for the rich and their gronies. we need an experienced administrator with wider knowledge in budgeting and financial management. i have always thought of an Economist. this attributes makes JONAH KETER our best CHOICE IN KCO COUNTY. For prof timbilwet ,try m.p. No basic administration in his work station could be traced.
we are rich in resc bt we luck pple who can mang????
Let anybody to contest with any seat, we have to observed the policies of each and at the end, mwananchi can deside.
lets give a chance to people like,SAMMY KOECH ,THE TEA RESEARCH GUY TO DO SOME IN KERICHO COUNTY
….please guys open your eye and ears and you will see and wish to listen to one gentleman Dr. chepkwony …… there are people who have had chance/s but the have fail…… take your time though
General kula pension mzee if not Afande. Imagine long serving Chemitan n Greeve Langat teachers of Keongo ua nearest primary school now count more than 1K graduates tey av raised n u how many pilots only Senior privates in Infantry units? count military men u assisted like arab Too of Kenegut did, only from ua wife side so go n ask their votes.. Afande plis leave the post 2 younger men.Keter giv way 2 our King Prof. Chepkwony an interlect n bright. Keter your academic qualification disqualify u 4 Governor i think u better go for your former Belgut seat b4 late. Timbilwet we strongly support u. “kokerok buyon koimen …….” malisa bwana Prof.
Generally Koech pliz Ilda anakuaripia. Now u r an old man not Afande to giv commands n orders. approach pple with humility n promise mathee wil remain at hom. tel pple how many commissioned offrs u took 2 forces not svc men 4 fatigue n rifle men but brain group n we shall consider u. Keter dont spoil 4 Prof. Timbilwet. He is our choice.
Hi .politics hit the road
Anyone in london from kericho my city
chepkwony(chairman) is the man to watch for kericho governor
Kericho county is one of the wealthiest county and it is our choice as wananchi from kericho county to vote in someone with good management skills. Let us vote in someone who we really know his management skills and one that we can trust with our resources. Thomas Ngeno is my choice
Keter 4 senetorship kityo
i am wondering who is this jaluo reporting falsehood about kericho county?
where is bureti?where is konoin?
who are fighting for kericho county ?