Deputy President William Ruto’s campaign for Jubilee candidates has been dealt a major blow after independent candidates in the August 8 elections rejected his offer that would force them to bow out of the polls in favour of Jubilee candidates.
The Members of Parliament led by Ainamoi MP, Benjamin Langat and Soin/Sigowet parliamentary aspirant Kipsenget Koros refused the offer stating that their political bids were influenced majorly by their desire to serve the people and not by the need to secure jobs.
Langat, who will defend his seat as an independent, explained that he would have accepted Ruto’s offer if it came before he publicly declared that he would defend his seat as an independent.
On his part, Koros added that any other job would not put him in a position to draft bills that would be transformative to the economy of Sigowet resident.
“I ask the Deputy President to reserve the job that he promised me for area legislator Justice Kemei because I am confident that I am going to defeat him in the August polls,” Koros stated.
Last week, Ruto’s campaigns in Kericho were marred by public rebellion from the electorate who rejected Jubilee’s proposal for a six- piece voting model.
During his tours accompanied by President Uhuru Kenyatta, the DP faced the independent candidates at stopovers at Kipsitet, Fort- Ternan, Brooke, Kericho town trading centres.
Residents chanted the names of the independent candidates during the president's visit in the various towns, prompting Ruto to offer jobs for them to shelve their political ambitions for Jubilee candidates.
Other independent candidates in Kericho County include Bureti MP Leonard Sang, his Belgut counterpart Eric Keter and Joseph Cherorot, who is eying the Kipkelion East Parliamentary seat.
