Elgeyo Marakwet Independent Governor aspirant Moses Changwony. Photo/the-star.co.ke
An Independent candidate scored a major boost in his quest to unseat a Jubilee candidate in the August poll after a jubilant crowd demanded he addresses them in front of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.
Uhuru and Ruto were in Elgeyo Marakwet to drum up support for Jubilee candidates who won in the party's primaries.During the trip, the duo had called on their supports to vote for the six-piece candidates flying the Jubilee flag.
In a new twist, however, residents defied Uhuru and Ruto refusing to be addressed by Governor Alex Tolgos who emerged winner in the Jubilee primaries.
A jubilant crowd kept chanting Moses Changwony's name. Changwony is an Independent candidate for the county's top job.He lost to Tolgos in the Jubilee primaries and decided to jump ship.
Chants of "we want Changwony!, we want Changwony! " rent the air during the trip on Saturday by Uhuru and Ruto in the county.Tolgos was forced to cut short his speech and hand over the microphone to Changony.
The drama left the Jubilee bosses with no word. When their time to speak came, nobody mentioned the development.
This was rare considering the two have been insisting on their supporters to vote only Jubilee candidates. Independents are also not given an opportunity to address supporters during Uhuru and Ruto campaigns in their strongholds.