Independent Candidates who Rose Above Party and Clan Politics

By Isabella Maua

Since independence, Mt.Elgon majorly occupied by the Maasai Elgon popularly known as the Sabaots has had a reputation of taking the Kalenjin political wave and it’s voting pattern has since never changed.

In the most recently concluded general elections, it’s been more evident that not time nor poor developmental state of the area has since changed the mindset of the Sabaot nation.

With Deputy president William Ruto being on the ballot it was a no brainer that he would effortlessly garner more than ¾ of the casted votes from the region; more so because it was marked as a UDA stronghold.

In the results officially announced by IEBC, William Ruto had 48,656 votes with Raila Odinga coming a distant second having 5,650 votes out of the total 54,603 casted votes.

In the classical hotly contested parliamentary seat, the region had 2 candidates to watch under UDA party led by Ruto; and it was almost obvious that whoever would take the party ticket during nominations would be automatically crowned as the next area MNA.

However, the UDA nominations( which were since disputed and largely termed to be shambolic) saw the then incumbent Fred Kapondi win narrowly ahead of his great opponent Allan Chemayiek ( with a difference of 513 votes) Kapondi having 17,441 and Allan 16,928 votes.

Allan then decided to run on an independent ticket so as to clinge the parliamentary seat and satisfy the dire need of change that the mountain had shown to crave for.

Though his popularity made him a darling of many, he also had to walk the tight rope with other 6 independent candidates; this making a historical mark of many independent candidates ever vying for an elective position in the region.

Many MCAs some of whom had also been disappointed with party primary results decided to go the independent way though most lost it at the ballot on the D- day.

The MCAs who against all odds raced to the very end and emerged victorious were George Kwemoi who took over Elgon ward by defeating Hillary Kiptalam of UDA and Jacob Psero of Chesikaki ward who sent home Ben Kipkut of UDA having served 2 terms.

As it is said, eggs cannot remain intact when the nest is overturned, upcoming politicians and those who aspire to be leaders in Mt. Elgon should ensure they’re result oriented rather than be registered to a popular political party since voters are no longer ignorant and patterns are gradually but surely changing.