Governor Ruto Scares DP as JAP Loses

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto on Friday sent a strong political message to Deputy President William Ruto after his prefered candidate won the Nyongores by-elections.

Even before all polling stations had submitted their results,  Andrew Maritim of People’s Patriotic Party of Kenya’s (PPPK) had beaten Jubilee Alliance Party’s (JAP) Richard Leitich garnering 4726 votes against Leitich's 2480.

Governor Ruto, who actively campaigned for Mr Maritim, addressed their jubilant supporters outside the counting hall after the final outcome was announced at around 8.30pm.

“We have shown the party belonging to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto that Bomet can make independent decisions despite the fact that they brought 24 MPs to campaign for their candidate,” Governor Ruto asserted in the company of Maritim and Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot.

The victory sends signals of an intensified rift between the Governor and the Deputy President, with Kericho Senatorial by-election expected to be the next battlefield for the two Rift Valley big wigs.

The Nyongore's seat was declared vacant after former representative Cecilia Towett perished in a road crash in October last year.

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