Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago (in suit) with MP Oscar Sudi at Chepyakwat in Kapseret, May 26, 2017. [Photo: hivisasa.com]

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Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago has claimed that a decision by Independent candidates to form an association is part of a wider plot to block Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 presidential ambitions.

Mandago now wants voters in Uasin Gishu county to reject individuals vying as independent candidates in the August polls.

Speaking Chepyakwat in Kapseret sub county on Friday, Mandago told the residents to exclusively vote for Jubilee candidates.

"Deputy President William Ruto was the one in charge of Jubilee party nominations and since most of the independent candidates have claimed he orchestrated their defeats it's clear now that all they want is to ensure Ruto doesn't ascend to power in 2022," Mandago claimed.

The Independent candidates recently unveiled the Kenya Independent Candidates Association (KICA) and pledged to support and campaign for President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.

They also picked Governor William Kabogo as their interim chairperson and Mandago's main rival Bundotich Zedekiah Buzeki as the Deputy vice chairperson.