Former Kesses Member of Parliament Swarup Mishra has publicly requested Kesses constituents for forgiveness after dumping Deputy President William Ruto in the run-up to the 2022 general election.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, September 6, the outgoing MP admitted that he made the wrong decision of not joining Ruto's camp at a time when the outfit enjoyed overwhelming support in his constituency and region.
“I humbly request my community to forgive me for the wrong decision I made. At the end of the day, sometimes, the wrong wisdom or decision can happen," Mishra pleaded.
However, Mishra said that he has learned from his mistake and would seek reconciliation with the President-elect.
“It is good that we realize, reconcile and also correct ourselves in future so that it never happens,” Mishra stated.
The former lawmaker and businessman who was born in Odiasha, Eastern India, speaks fluent Kalenjin. He was also baptized with a Kalenjin name 'Kiprop'. Mishra lives in Uasin Gishu County, specifically Kesses.
He recently refuted claims that he had withdrawn scholarships for students he was sponsoring after failing to defend his parliamentary seat.
The former legislature who vied as an independent candidate could not withstand Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) wave in the region. Mishra, who was elected on a Jubilee ticket in 2017, was out to break the one-term jinx in the constituency.
The MP was floored by Julius Ruto who garnered over 30,000 votes while Mishra got slightly over 20,000, according to election results, announced by the Independent
In 2020, Mishra came under fire after angry youths stormed his event demanding that he respects Deputy President William Ruto. At the time he was handing out bursary funds to schools for the purchase of buses
Further, the irate youths claimed that Mishra was coerced to sign the petition that saw Adan Duale, a confidant of Ruto ousted as majority leader in the National Assembly, while leaders from the Deputy President stood with him.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) wave swept key seats in the Rift Valley region despite facing competition from independent candidates and those from Azimio.
Mishra has since congratulated William Ruto for being elected as the fifth President of Kenya.
“My family and I want to convey our heartiest congratulations, warm greetings and success in the name of God to our new President HE William Ruto,” Mishra stated.
Mishra's statement came after Supreme Court judges unanimously upheld Ruto’s victory as the President-elect.
Azimio leader and others filed petitions seeking to annul Ruto's win. The outgoing DP will be sworn in on Tuesday, September 13.
