Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Eldoret Toown.

A LARGE delegation of professionals, civic leaders and farmers from Keiyo and Marakwet communities met the former Kerio South MP Nicholas Kiprono Kipyator Biwott and endorsed him to contest the Senate seat for the region.

The meeting took place on Sunday afternoon at the Royalton Hotel, which is located about ten kilometers in the outskirt of Eldoret Town on the main Eldoret-Burn Forest and Nakuru highway.

Biwott also had an hour long consultation meeting with a delegation of the National Vision Party of Kenya from Kisumu district. The delegation was led by the NVP Kisumu branch chairman Eliud Aum Ndalo and discussed wide ranging issues and strategies in the revitalization of the party and the recruitment of members at the grassroots.

Earlier own, the “powerman” who is also known to his peers as the “Total Man” visited Marakwet and took part in the fund raising meeting at the Kapchewew High School in Marakwet district. He was overwhelmed by the request by the participants at the meeting who told him that owing to his vast experience and wealthy of knowledge about Kenya’s politics he was the most suitable person to represent the Keiyo/Marakwet County in the Senate.

The former long serving cabinet Minister in the KANU regime confirmed to this writer that he was giving a serious consideration to the request and appeal made by members of the Keiyo/Marakwet communities to represent them in the Senate, which is located to the region in the new constitution. He decline a request from other quarters that he should contest the position of the County governor, saying the position is only suitable for young men and women.

Thee delegations representing various political, economic and farming interests told the former Minister that his candidature for the Senate seat would improve the previously shaky relations between the two communities.

Biwott advised those who visited him to focus on hard work and maintain peace as one of the ingredients of peaceful development. He also urged the to maintain peace and tranquility and at the same time maintain law and order and peaceful co-existence with their neighbors.

He said if it was the wish of the electorate that he should represent them in the Senate, and then he was willing to accept the challenge.

Meanwhile Biwott’s National Vision Party of Kenya had a morale boosting when a large crowd at Mogogosiek in Bureti district declared that they would part the company with the ODM and join the NVP .The declarations were made during a fund drive meeting held at Chebitet African Inland Church. The fund raising meeting was presided over by Bishop Daniel Tanui, the NVP director of elections.

Bishop Tanui told the meeting that although members of the Kipsigis and other Kalenjin sub-tribes had voted against the new constitution, they should forget the past and join other Kenyan communities in making sure that the new constitution is put in place and it works for the advancement and development of all Kenyans.

The former two times MP for Kipkellion constituency, Bishop Tanui told the Kipsigis MPs to mobilize the residents of the Kericho and Bomet Counties to buy shares in the multinational tea farms operating in the region, saying their 99 years and lease of farms is just about to expire since the new constitution has scraped the old land leases of 999 years.

He also told the local farmers to diversify into other cash crops instead of relying mainly on tea, maize and dairy farming. Cash minting crops such as tomatoes, onions and cabbages, he said comes from the neighboring districts and selling like hot cake in Kipsigis land. These crops can be grown locally.

He told the Kalenjins to ditch the OIDM saying that the party had short-changed them, though they voted for it in 2007 on a man to man, it has failed to deliver the goods and its promises in general.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com