Bomet County Speaker, Shadrack Rotich, has resigned from the county office. This was after he tendered his resignation to the county clerk, Isaac Kitur, on Friday, December 13, 2019. His resignation comes after a slight delay ahead of his swearing-in as deputy governor.
Bomet Governor, Hillary Barchock had appointed him as his choice of Deputy two weeks ago, despite opposition from various groups which had beseeched the Governor to appoint a woman, in honour of the late Dr.Joyce Laboso.
The swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for December 18, 2019, will take place at the Bomet Green Stadium.
Various parties had requested the governor to appoint a woman since not doing so would set back all the significant strides made when it comes to women leadership in the country.
Former Bomet Woman Representative Cecilia Ngetich said the governor had made a political miscalculation by failing to choose a woman and that he should forego his 2022 aspirations.
“He should start packing up to exit in 2022 for going against the wish of the electorate and the country,” she stated
Sally Kirui, Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairlady, claimed that the governor had betrayed the late Joyce Laboso who had selected him as her running mate but now displays no faith in women leadership by choosing a man to deputize him.
According to The Standard, Sally Kirui said, ''We had made big strides in women leadership in Bomet but now Governor Barchok has pushed us to back to the drawing board, we will not shy from speaking about it. This is so shameful and we will let the whole world know we are not happy as women in Bomet.''
It was also reported that the Council of Governors had articulated there wish to see Barchok nominate a woman. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, during the Late Governor Joyce Laboso's funeral, also urged Governor Barchok to appoint a female to deputize him.
Barchok, however, responded by affirming his choice in Shadrack by stating that he is the one he trusts to enable him to deliver development to the Bomet residents.
