Kesses MP Dr. Swarup Mishra has denied any animosity toward Deputy President William Ruto, despite the latter's public criticism of his candidacy ahead of the August 9 elections. Mishra urged constituents to support Ruto for president and himself as MP, emphasizing their shared political goals.
During a Constituency Development Fund (CDF) event, Mishra stated, "Ruto and I have no problem at all. Therefore, I am imploring on the residents of Kesses to vote for me as their MP and Ruto as our President." His remarks drew cheers from supporters, underscoring his bid to retain the seat independently.
Earlier, Ruto criticized Mishra during a campaign rally in Uasin Gishu, advising voters not to re-elect the MP and instead back UDA candidate Julius Ruto. The deputy president accused Mishra and other lawmakers of turning against him after benefiting from his 2017 electoral campaign.
Mishra defended his decision to run independently, stating, "Ruto is a good leader and I urge voters from Kesses to elect me as their MP and vote for Ruto as our fifth president. Ruto is a man of honor with leadership qualities that our country needs." He declined to elaborate on his split from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) but reaffirmed his support for Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
Residents of Kesses rejected Ruto’s remarks, accusing him of interfering in local politics. Daniel Kiplagat, a local resident, said, "Ruto should focus on national politics and leave us to elect an MP of our choice." Voters highlighted Mishra’s five-year development record, including youth empowerment projects and food distribution, as key reasons for their support.
Supporters also criticized neighboring MPs for allegedly inciting division. Kiplagat added, "Politicians from other parts of Uasin Gishu should not dictate how we elect our leaders. We know our needs better than they do."
Mishra’s performance as an MP has earned recognition, including praise from the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) board for his community initiatives.
