Soy Member of Parliament Caleb Kositany has sparked a stir online following a remark he made over a community that would determine the next governor in Uasin Gishu.
Speaking during the burial of Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago's mother at Kuinet on Tuesday, Kositany said only the Nandi Community who can decide who will win the gubernatorial seat since they are the majority.
The first-time legislator said it would be egregious for an outsider to decide the destiny of the local majority.
This comes barely after a year when Uasin Gishu hit the limelight in the country for witnessing hotly contested gubernatorial campaigns fueled by animosity, hatred, negative ethnicity and tribalism especially after an independent candidate Zedekia Bundotich was perceived to be enjoying the support of the non-Kalenjin voters.
The remarks have since caused an outrage among the residents of Uasin Gishu. Most people have expressed their dismay over this remarks which comes at a time the country is healing over long fractious electioneering period.
Onne of the locals who were unhappy with the Jubilee MP's sentiments is Nickson Kiplagat who expressed his concerns on Facebook saying; "Caleb Kostitany your utterances are uncalled for at this time of age, sometimes silence is golden. You have proved to many that your big head is nothing but a vessel to carry teeth and ears. No apologies".
Jeremy Malakwen, another local also expressed his concerns through a popular WhatsApp group, Moiben Constituency.
He said; " The other day he told Kipsigis to take their own son from Nandi hills. How do Kipsigis feel?. You expect DP to send Caleb for vote hunting in Kipsigis land in future with such statements? Caleb is slowly spitting Rift valley into sub-tribes. For a political sober person will see a future problem developing. And for any politically myopic person will see Caleb as a king who knows and understands rift valley politics".
Uasin Gishu is a largely cosmopolitan county but the Kalenjin community are the majority.
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