The death of immediate former Bomet Governor Dr Joyce Laboso in July this year totally changed the politics of Bomet and that of the entire Rift Valley region ahead of the 2022 general elections.
During the 2017 elections, Laboso dethroned the then governor and Jubilee's fiercest critic Isaac Ruto.
During the much heated political contest, Ruto believed that Jubilee had fielded Laboso to battle him after he completely fell out with the party's leadership. The battle left the Chama Cha Mashinani party leader badly bruised as Laboso sent the outspoken leader to another phase of political cold.
Since then, Bomet remained a point of interest for the Jubilee party and political observers and Laboso's death left a big gap in the county's politics.
Before her demise, speculations were rife that Ruto whose recent moves indicate that he is plotting for a comeback was going to battle it out with her and the tough war witnessed in 2017 was going to happen again.
His efforts to rebrand his CCM party will be instrumental in his quest to clinch his seat in 2022. His popularity and experience in politics will give his opponents a run for their money.
Although no other candidate has officially declared his /her bid for the seat, Governor Hillary Barchok who took over after the death of Laboso is likely to defend his position after the end of this term.
Chairman of the board of the Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency Dr Julius Kones who lost to Laboso during the Jubilee party preliminaries in 2017 is also expected to try his luck in the coming polls and he will definitely be a force to be reckoned with.
It is, therefore, without a doubt, that Bomet will be one of the counties to watch in 2022 as it's political battle takes shape.
#hivisasaoriginal