Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos received Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) certification on May 29, 2022, to contest the Senate seat, positioning him against incumbent Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen in the August general elections. Tolgos, having served two terms as county executive, appeared before IEBC officials in Iten and was issued his nomination certificate after submitting required documentation.
Murkomen, a UDA-aligned senator seeking a third term, previously won the seat in 2013 by defeating late Keiyo South MP Nicholas Biwott and retained it in 2017 with over 97% of the vote. Tolgos cited a perceived disconnect between county governance and Senate oversight responsibilities as motivation for his candidacy. "Vying for the Senate seat was not an easy decision, many have been asking why I want to be elected as the senator, it is clear, my record speaks louder," he stated.
ODM candidate Celestine Chepsaigut became the first woman to contest the Keiyo North parliamentary seat, vowing to prioritize gender equality and infrastructure development. She faces Adams Kipsanai of UDA if cleared by IEBC. In Trans Nzoia, Senate candidates including Saboti MP Caleb Amisi and former senator Henry Ole Ndiema urged voters to reject violence, calling for peaceful campaigns and transparency from IEBC.
