Nairobi News

Political temperatures are on the rise in Uasin Gishu County in the wake of internal squabbles pitting local leaders.

In what political analysts believe is an alignment ahead of the 2027 polls, senior county leaders have for the first time differed in public.

First-term Governor Jonathan Bii claimed, at a recent public event, that Senator Jackson Mandago and Soy lawmaker David Kiplagat were holding night meetings to sabotage his administration.

“I want to ask why are you organising meetings in the night to spread propaganda that I am not up to the task. I want to ask leaders to avoid propaganda and that we unite for the sake of development,” said the county boss at an event attended by the two leaders.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi was also present at the event at Ziwa, in Soy constituency.

Governor Bii struck a diplomatic tone, suggesting he wants all leaders to unite for the sake of the development of the locals.

Linturi was at the constituency to launch the distribution of mobile dryers to support farmers to curb post-harvest losses at the farm level.

Senator Mandago, who served as the area Governor for two terms, accused his predecessor’s junior staff, whom he did not name, of discriminating against his political supporters.

“I want to tell the Governor to rein on some junior staff who are actively discriminating that some people are for Mandago and others for Governor Bii. Residents of this county must be treated equally,” said Mr Mandago.

Mr Kiplagat, who’s previously served as the county assembly speaker, is said to be eying the gubernatorial seat in 2027.

The first term MP raised political eyebrows when he stated that the gubernatorial seat belongs to the residents and not an individual.

“I want to assure residents that we are confident that our future in politics is better. Nobody should tell us that any seat whether MP or gubernatorial belongs to an individual but it belongs to the residents,” said the MP.

Tension was high at the event as the supporters of the leaders started to shout at each other and moved to the dais. It took the intervention of the security team to quell the tension and restore order at the event.

The county commissioner Dr Edison Nyale warned the youth against heckling leaders at the event.

“I want to warn the youth that they should maintain order. If you’re intoxicated you should keep off this forum,” said the county commissioner.

Ziwa in Soy constituency is considered the nerve centre of politics of Uasin Gishu county and the leaders are keen to maintain political clout in the region. All the three leaders are from the same constituency.

In 2013, the Eldoret North constituency was split into Soy and Turbo constituencies following the promulgation of the constitution in 2010.

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