BY WINSTONE MUSISI
Former Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet’s bid for Elgeyo Marakwet governorship seat got a major boost after two former MPs stepped down in his favor.
Boinnet’s chances of clinching the seat was also boosted after the Myoot council of elders from his Keiyo community endorsed his
candidature ahead of the August 9 general election.
The decision by aspirants who include former Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui and former Keiyo North lawmaker Lucas Chepkittony to step down and rally their support behind the immediate former Tourism and Wildlife Chief Administrative Secretary was arrived at during a closed door meeting held at Kenmosa resort in Eldoret Town of Uasin Gishu County.
Boinnet served in the docket for three years following his stint as the IG between 2015 and 2019.
The former MPs have vowed to support the former IG who is set to battle it out with the Deputy Governor Wisley Rotich in the coming hotly contested United Democratic Alliance party nomination exercise.
The elders led by their chairman Peter Kattam said they will hold another meeting with their counterparts from the Marakwet community to implore upon them to produce a running mate for the former IG.
“We do not want to approach the coming august 9th general election disunity as a community for the sake of peace and development and that is why we want to share the two top county seats in amicable manner devoid of sideshows,” said Kattam.
The current outgoing governor Alex Tolgos hails from the Marakwet community while his deputy, Wisley Rotich is from the majority Keiyo community.
The move by the elders is part of the elusive negotiated democracy in sharing of the two top county positions to facilitate smooth
transition ahead of the polls.
Boinnet thanked the elders and his competitors saying that he was up to the task ahead of him in transforming the devolved unit for the benefit of the people regardless of their ethnicity or religious background.
“My first priority will be to meet with the national government to address one and for all the decade long cattle rustling and banditry along the Kerio Valley that has retarded all spheres of social and economic development,” assured Boinnet.
He said that he intends to roll out an aggressive campaign in all parts of the county to market his candidature on UDA ticket and
impressed upon the local residents to give him the support he deserves to be their next county chief.