Nairobi News

Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomurkai has joined a growing number of politicians seeking to despose or succeed President William Ruto.

The first-term county boss, speaking during the Turkana Cultural Festival on October 12, 2023, also clarified he will support President Ruto until 2032 before offering his candidature.

President Ruto and other senior government officials including Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua were present at the event which seeks to showcase the Turkana culture and promote harmony within the community and its neighbours from Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

“As the county leader, I want to assure you that I will back your agenda for this country . . . once you are done with 10 years, I will contest for the seat,” said the county boss.

“I decided from the onset that I will support this administration and I will not be cowed by threats that I work with the Kenya Kwanza administration. I will ensure I mobilize our community and I will deliver votes from the six sub-counties,” said Mr Lomurkai.

The Governor indicated he had served as a councilor in the defunct municipalities for 10 years and as Tukwel MCA and later MP for Loima constituency before ascending to the county’s top seat in the last general elections. Mr Lomurkai defeated former Cabinet Secretary John Munyes to clinch the position.

The Governor will however have to put his house in order, as the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commision (EACC) has maintained Lomurakai fraudulently acquired a University Degree and Diploma in Counselling from the Kenya Methodist University.

“The Governor was among the 241 candidates flagged out by EACC as having outstanding integrity issues prior to the August 9, 2022 elections and their names submitted to IEBC,” said EACC.

“Following investigations, EACC established that both the Governor’s Degree and Diploma Certificates were fake thus rendering the Governor liable to criminal prosecution.”

Once the matter was brought to the attention of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the DPP preferred charges of forgery, giving false information to the EACC and submitting false documents to the IEBC against the Turkana Governor.

“In October 2022, before EACC could arrest the Governor to face charges in court, the Governor filed a Petition in the Eldoret High Court seeking to stop EACC from arresting or charging him. He cited a threatened violation of his constitutional rights,” said EACC.

Either way, he joins a number of other leaders who have made public their presidential ambitions.

They include DAP-Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa who has announced he will challenge President Ruto in the 2027 elections.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has also severally indicated he will be vying for the presidency in 2027.

Kalonzo has backed Raila for the presidency during the 2013, 2017 and 2022 polls.

Meanwhile, Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary recently ruled out the possibility of challenging President Ruto in the 2027 polls.

The stance was supported by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja who has in the past hinted he has trained his eyes in the presidency ‘in the future’.

Sakaja also backed Mudavadi to succeed Ruto in 2032.

And even though he has never made public his ambitions, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is also said to be contesting for the presidency in future.

In a related development, a section of Rift Valley leaders hinted at backing Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s presidential bid in 2032.

Specifically, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who has been vocal with a proposal that would, if implemented, extend President Ruto’s tenure in office,  said that he was ready to rally his community to support Gachagua when Ruto retires.

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