Daggers are drawn between two candidates for the Kericho gubernatorial seat as the clock ticks towards the August 8 General Election.
The incumbent Paul Chepkwony of Jubilee Party (JP) and Jonah Keter who is a Kanu candidate for the post have embarked on intensive campaigns crisscrossing the county wooing voters to back them in the polls. Keter vied for the governorship seat in 2013 polls but he was trounced during the United Republican Party primaries.
Each is using all the tricks in the book to endear himself to the voters in a bid to capture the top county post. Keter has vowed to pull surprises comes the D-Day. He has exuded confidence of beating the Jubilee party candidate, Chepkwony. But it is going to be an uphill task for him since majority of the residents is Jubilee diehards.
“I am optimistic of winning this post because I enjoy a lot of support from the county residents. I am also campaigning seriously in a bid to send Chepkwony home” said Keter who is an economist.
Incumbency is expected to catapult Chepkwony to retaining his seat during the polls besides having initiated various development projects across the county. He is expected to sail easily because majority of the people are pro-Jubilee.
A week ago President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto took their campaigns to the Kericho County where they drummed- up support for the JP candidates. Whatever Ruto said is the gospel in the South Rift region and therefore, Jubilee candidates are expected to clinch various elective posts.
“My development record speaks for itself and I know I have done a lot for the people and I expect them to back me during the polls,” said Chepkwony who is a professor of Chemistry and a former university don.
Governor Chepkwony beat moneyed Richard Kipkoech Langat, the former National Social Security Fund Managing trustee, Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat and a director with Kenya Ports Authority Fred Kirui during the JP primaries.