Kapondi Retains Mt Elgon MP Seat With a Landslide Win

By Isabella Maua

As the country awaits final announcement and declaration of winners by IEBC, it was joy for Mt. Elgon incumbent Fred Chesebe Kapondi as he was officially announced as MP elect on Thursday evening.

After the hotly contested election which was majorly perceived to be a two horse race between Allan Chemayiek and Fred Kapondi, the latter managed to successfully defend his seat with 25,466 votes against Allan’s 21,923 votes.

While addressing media at Kibuk tallying centre after his official declaration by IEBC as the MP elect, Kapondi said it’s by God’s grace and favour that he emerged victorious and the joy is not personal but is shared across Elgon fraternity.

He further mentioned that his experience in politics is undisputed and above all his dream to maintain a peaceful and unified society.

“With my vast experience in Elgon politics, I would never want to support divisiveness, however, it’s sad that Allan and his supporters had a different political perception which was majorly driven by selfish interests and forcefulness which I advise that they try applying elsewhere but not in Mt.Elgon,”Kapondi warned.

He also mentioned that most of his opponents’ votes were either as a result of coercion or bribery but only his were genuine.

“Most of my strong supporters were threatened and some had their vehicles vandalized a day before elections; in Kaptama for instance leaflets were dished out written UKIPIGIA KAPONDI KURA UTAJUA HAUJUI,PIGIA ALLAN,HATUTAKI MADOADOA,” the legislator revealed.

100 days in office

As for his commitment to the people in the first 100 days in office, Kapondi assured Elgonians that he’ll implement UDA’s bottom up manifesto.

“I’m optimistic that my party leader DP William Ruto will soon be declared the 5^th President of the republic and under his able leadership I’ll ensure resources trickle literally from bottom -up as our slogan dictates,” Kapondi reiterated.

As for the much talked about and highly politicized constituency division, Kapondi pledged to present the matter to the boundary review commision when time is ripe and dismissed claims by his opponents that he was defeated to divide the constituency earlier.

“My competitors were taking advantage of electorates’ ignorance and kept promising them they would divide this constituency if elected, it’s not in the power of an MP to do so whatsoever,” he clarified.

He however promised that since the review is done after 10 years he will meet and deliberate with Elgon elders and leaders in 2024 then review and present their issues to the Boundary Commision so that the dream of having 2 or more constituencies is at long last realized.