Linet Chepkorir, famously known as Toto, has opened up on how her mother opposed her desire to join politics and her candidature for the Bomet Woman Representative position.
Speaking on Friday night, April 15, after being handed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nomination certificate, Toto explained that her mother was initially opposed to her plans to join politics, asking her to concentrate on her professional career.
She went ahead to explain that her mother was not convinced of her plans to take a stab at politics since she was still young and did not have the financial muscle to fund her campaigns.
"My mother was so much opposed to my candidacy. She wanted me to concentrate on my career after finishing school. She was also worried about where I could get the funds to bankroll my campaigns for the Bomet Woman representative position," narrated Chepkorir.
Her relatives, at some point, branded her a joyrider in the Bomet race but she stood her ground.
"They told me I was still young and could not fund my campaigns and that I should abandon that dream but I stood my ground."
Toto explained that her decision to join politics was informed by her failure to secure a job after graduating in 2021. In a separate interview with The Standard, she explained that the demand for experience by employers made her choose politics.
She stated that she was not patient to gain experience as a procurement officer so as to be employed and this made her try her hand in politics.
The Chuka University graduate turned to friends and schoolmates who fundraised for her, helping her run the campaigns and pay the nomination fees.
"I have seen campaigns where money is splashed yet I could not even afford party registration fee, but that did not stop me," she explained, noting that she has now won a lot of support in the region, enough to propel her clinch the seat in the August 9 General Election.
She won the UDA ticket for Bomet Woman Representative seat after defeating 12 other seasonal politicians including nominated MCA Cecilia Mutai, Stacy Chepkemoi, Brenda Munai, and Susan Koech.
Her political stars started re-aligning after she attended a political event organised by Deputy President, William Ruto, at his Karen residence.
At the gate, she was almost turned away by the guards who mistook her for an intruder. But her photo donning simple yellow clothes later went viral on different social media platforms making her famous in the country.
