Baringo, Kenya: Jubilee deputy presidential candidate William Ruto’s calls for six-piece voting for URP in Baringo received a blow after voters rejected his party Senate aspirant.
Ruto, who had taken Jubilee campaigns to former President Moi’s Baringo County, where he addressed a rally at Kabartonjo, was booed when he endorsed Bishop Jackson Kosgei for the Senate.
The rowdy crowd stood their ground despite strong pleas by Ruto urging them to vote six-piece.
The crowd instead chanted the name of Kosgei’s opponent, Kanu national Chairman Gideon Moi.
Ruto’s effort to charm the crowd by describing Gideon as his ‘brother’ and that the Jubilee Government will offer him a State job was rejected by the crowd, which made it clear that the former president’s son was their choice for the Senate seat.
Ruto also endorsed former Higher Education and Loans Board CEO Benjamin Cheboi for the Baringo County Governor seat and lawyer Grace Kiptui for Women’s Representative.
He also endorsed former Baringo North MP and Justice Assistant minister William Cheptumo and urged the electorate to vote for the URP County Ward Representative candidate.
A TNA parliamentary candidate for Baringo North Constituency Col (Rtd) Moses Kwonyike also took issue with Ruto’s plea terming it a breach of democracy. This was after Ruto endorsed his rival Cheptumo, who is vying on a URP ticket.
“People should be given a chance to choose their own leaders based on their abilities,” said Kwonyike.
Ruto’s URP party is facing a tough challenge from independence party Kanu in Baringo County. Candidates from both parties are going to face-off in the six elective positions.
Recently, Gideon urged voters to shun six-piece voting and instead elect quality leaders.
Former Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot, former Belgut MP Charles Keter and former Baringo North MP and Justice assistant Minister William Cheptumo accompanied Ruto.
