As nominations of leaders in different parties start in preparation to the coming general elections, gubernatorial aspirants in Trans Nzoia County are having difficult time of choosing their running mates.
Several factors that gubernatorial aspirants are grappling with in naming of their preferred running mates include interference by their political godfathers who want to force some of their preferred choices on them without giving them independence of choosing their preferred running mates.
In Trans Nzoia County, the two gubernatorial hopefuls are former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya who is vying on a DAP-K Party aligned to Azimio One Kenya Alliance and Kiminini MP Dr. Chris Wamalwa of Ford Kenya aligned to Kenya Kwanza.
Dr. Wamalwa recently was criss-crossing the County with Saboti MCA David Kapoloman from Saboat community promising him to be his running mate, however, as it stands, things are not rosy for the MCA, therefore the once promised post hangs in balance following Deputy President’s intervention who promised to give a running mate for Dr. Wamalwa who will be from Nandi community and not Kapoloman a Saboat.
According to Ford Kenya die hard who spoke to West Media and sought anonymity, so far Saboat MCA has lost the promise given by Dr. Wamalwa as his running mate and that his fate is unknown following the intervention of DP Ruto.
The DP also is supporting Senatorial aspirant from Ford Kenya, former Senator Henry Ole Ndiema but also requesting for Woman Rep position to be from UDA.
The intervention by Deputy President prompted Saboti MCA together with some elders from Saboat Community visit Bungoma Senator and Ford Kenya party leader’s home for more consultation as well as shed light on the future of Kapoloman which Wetangula explained to them boldly on the leadership plans between him and Ruto stating that actually Kapoloman was not close to being a running mate for Dr. Wamalwa but the position was already taken up by DP Ruto that will provide a running mate for Dr. Wamalwa.
According to Dr. Martin Ngomat who was part of the delegation that visited Senator Wetangula’s home for briefing concerning the fate of Saboti MCA, disclosed that Wetangula explained to them how he has worked out a formula with DP Ruto on how to share out positions of leadership in the County, with Deputy Governor’s position reserved to the Nandi community and not a Saboat with Ruto promising to support Senatorial aspirant from Ford Kenya who is a Saboat an action that infuriated Kapoloman who left the meeting.
On Natembeya’s side, the situation is however the same as he is having same difficulty since Defence Cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa wants to choose a running mate for him.
Natembeya is touted to choosing his running mate from Saboat community which also has given him sleepless nights as more aspirants have presented themselves for running mate position with some being; former Chief Officer for Water in Trans Nzoia County government John Meng’wa, Chief Officer for Agriculture in West Pokot County Milcah Psiwa, pilot Sternley Kirui, former Chief Officer for Lands in Trans Nzoia County Eunice Jelimo Ndiwa among others.
However, Natembeya has decided to engage elders from the Saboat community that will choose a running mate for him and not to decide for himself as he has promised to offer a running mate position to the community.
Dr. Wamalwa is being supported by Deputy President Wiliam Ruto, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula , ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi, Endebess MP Dr. Robert Pukose, Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi amongst a host of Kenya Kwanza leaders in the County.
On his part, Natembeya is being supported by Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga, Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, Trans Nzoia Senator Dr. Michael Mbito, Trans Nzoia Woman Rep Janet Nangabo, Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny among others.
Apart from the two, other gubernatorial aspirants are; Dorcas Njenga of ODM, Moses Khaoya of ODM, Jim Nduruchi of Independent etc.
