Uasin Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago has dismissed calls by a section of the electorate that he should change his running mate during the 2017 general elections.
Mandago was categorical that he entered into a ten-year mutual agreement with his deputy Daniel Chemno, reiterating that they are keen to keep their working partnership intact in the coming elections.
“We entered into a working agreement with my deputy and we have enjoyed the best working relationship since we ascended to power because our key mandate is to serve the people’s interest,” said Mandago.
Mandago and Chemno, who were not popular contestants during the 2013 elections have gradually established themselves to become a force to reckon with through a significant track record on infrastructural development and face-lifting of health facilities.
The calls for Mandago to ditch Chemno as his running mate were initiated by Huruma Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Peter Chomba who alleged that the Agikuyu community deserved the position of the deputy governor.
“"We deserve the deputy governor’s seat because we have significant votes to influence the tilting of the seesaw in the gubernatorial elections. The governor has been hesitant to yield to this proposal but we will seat down as a community and chat the way forward ahead of the 2017 elections,” said Chomba.
Calls by Chomba to have Mandago ditch Chemno have however not gone well with a faction of the Agikuyu community leaders who distanced themselves from the demands by the MCA.
Joseph Wainaina, the Jubilee patron in Uasin Gishu stated that the demands by Chomba are for his personal interests and aimed at unnecessarily raising political temperatures in the region.
“The MCA is not speaking for the community as he claims but fronting his personal interests, we are okay with the current leadership and we are keen to support the governor and his deputy’s re-election next year,” said Wainaina.
According to Wainaina, the demands by Chomba, who is said to be eyeing the deputy governor’s position himself are not good for the reconciliation process that saw the communities unite in 2013 after the 2007 clashes.
Chemno on his side said he had nothing to worry about concerning the personal demands by the MCA, saying his agreement with Mandago is tighter than before and that their priority is fulfilling pledges made to the electorate by 2017.