The contest for the Kericho governor’s seat is shaping up to be a closely watched affair within the Jubilee Party, given the party’s strong presence in the region.
Aspirants are keenly aware that winning the party nomination is likely to secure the governorship, drawing a diverse range of candidates including experienced politicians, technocrats, and an academic.
Jubilee Ticket Contenders ¶
Besides incumbent Governor Paul Chepkwony, other notable contenders for the Jubilee ticket include Ainamoi MP Benjamin Lagat, former National Social Security Fund Managing Trustee Richard Langat, Engineer Fred Kirui, a director with Kenya Ports Authority, and James Sang, a lecturer at Moi University.
These aspirants and their supporters are actively campaigning across the county, each seeking to persuade residents of their capability to lead Kericho forward.
Kericho County comprises six sub-counties: Kipkelion East, Kipkelion West, Belgut, Soin-Sigowet, Bureti, and Ainamoi. Aspirants are leveraging their local connections, particularly the "home boy" advantage, as part of their strategy before expanding their outreach to the broader county.
Notably, both Chepkwony and Lagat (Benjamin) hail from Ainamoi constituency, while Kirui originates from Kipkelion West, and Langat (Richard) and Sang are from Bureti constituency.
Given the high stakes, political tensions are escalating, with candidates and their supporters engaging in intense debates.
Incumbent Governor Chepkwony has become a focal point for criticism, with his opponents targeting his performance over the past four years.
Criticism and Response ¶
Ainamoi MP Benjamin Lagat recently criticized Governor Chepkwony’s administration for allegedly failing to effectively utilize funds from the National Government to improve the county and the lives of its people.
Lagat accused Chepkwony of dishonesty regarding the achievements of his administration, stating, "There’s nothing tangible that Chepkwony’s administration has done despite receiving billions of shillings from the National Treasury. He is cheating you that he has done this or that but when you go to the ground, there’s nothing."
In response, Governor Chepkwony dismissed the criticisms as politically motivated and countered by questioning Lagat’s management of constituency funds.
Chepkwony challenged Lagat to account for the use of the National Constituency Development Fund, suggesting, "Langat should explain to us how he is spending the National Constituency Development Fund because a lot of money has been disbursed to the constituency but there’s nothing to show for it. We demand a thorough audit on the use of the CDF fund."
The recovered account cited reporting by Mediamax.
