A former Moi University student leader has beaten seasoned politicians to clinch the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) ticket for the Kericho County senatorial by-election.
Aaron Cheruiyot, 29, floored former Roads minister Franklin Bett, ex-ODM executive director Magerer Langat and second-placed former National Housing Cooperation chair Sammy Chepkwony to win the ticket, garnering 17,565 votes.
Mr Cheruiyot’s main challenger in the March 7 by-election is Kanu’s Paul Sang. Many of the contestants in the weekend primary have conceded defeat, vowing to support the nominee.
A 2011 literature graduate of Kesses-based Moi University, Cheruiyot unsuccessfully vied as secretary general and chairman of the Moi University Students Organisation, but still remained a popular figure.
If elected, the businessman will be the youngest senator in Kenya’s history.
The Kericho senatorial seat was declared vacant after the President Uhuru Kenyatta’s appointment of Charles Keter into cabinet as the Energy CS in a reshuffle.