Uasin Gishu's Jubilee candidate Jackson Mandago (the incumbent) and independent candidate Kiprop Bundotich also known as Buzeki. [Photo/courtesy]A gubernatorial contest between Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago and businessman Kiprop Bundotich alias Buzeki is now growing into a thorn in Jubilee’s campaign leg in the populous North Rift County.Governor Mandago, who won against Buzeki in Jubilee nominations is now demands Jubilee party leadership to convince his rival Buzeki to step down failure to which he will relent on crusading for the President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election.The fierce governor has insisted that his party should draw lines between supporting his re-election or his competitor’s bid in August poll.According to governor Mandago, Buzeki enjoys the backing of powerful characters within the top rank of Jubilee party.“If this trend continues we will tell our supporters to vote for us and make individual decisions on other seats. It is not a must for us to be in government,” Mandago threatened during a recent rally in Eldoret town.The spat has provoked a mediation effort from Deputy President William Ruto, who in a Wednesday meeting sought to cool down political temperatures among North Rift Jubilee leaders ahead of President Uhuru’s tour in the region this weekend.A defiant independent, Buzeki has presented a tough challenge to the incumbent and the Governor’s allies, including Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter and Oscar Sudi of Kapseret, want DP Ruto to ask him to step down.“When they (referring to Uhuru and Ruto) come here, we will ask them to support Jubilee candidates and not recognise the so-called independent, who are actually defectors from Jubilee,” Keter said.Fears are widespread that the tussle between Mandago and Buzeki could build animosity among supporters, which could for another season disrupt the peaceful coexistence among the Uasin Gishu residents.The region is marked as the worst hit by the 2007-08 post-election violence in which more than 1,000 people lost their lives and thousands were displaced.

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