Uasin Gishu county begun the year 2017 on a mourning note following the death of former nominated Member of Parliament and assistant minister Mark Too.
Too had died of a stroke aged 64 on December 31, 2016, at the St. Luke's Hospital in Eldoret town.
Former nominated MP Mark Too. [Photo: standardmedia.co.ke]
His burial that was held earlier in January at his farm in Kapseret marked the start of a political battle in the county that saw Baringo Senator Gideon Moi tell Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago that the Deputy President William Ruto had brought in billionaire businessman Bundotich Zedekiah Kiprop popularly known as Buzeki to take over the gubernatorial seat.
The duel between Mandago and Buzeki threatened to split the county along ethnic lines. Mandago seemed to enjoy the support the dominant Nandi community while Buzeki was a darling among the Keiyo sub-tribe of the Kalenjin community and non-Kalenjins.
At the end, Mandago carried the day after the opposition's National Super Alliance (NASA) threw their weight behind his candidature.
Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago with billionaire businessman Bundotich Kiprop Buzeki at a past event. [Photo|Joe Khisa]
"If it were not for tibim and tialala I wouldn't be governor today," Mandago admitted days after he was declared the winner in the closely contested race.
Before the August 8 poll, the county had ushered in a new dawn after the launch of a sh200 billion industrial park at Plateau, Kesses sub-county on July 8 by Deputy President William Ruto.The park, a brainchild of businessman David Lagat popularly known as DL, once complete would see the creation of over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.
On July 11, Uasin Gishu was again mourning following the death of former powerful minister Nicholas Biwott. The total man and was fondly referred died aged 77 at Nairobi Hospital following what was said to be kidney failure.
Former powerful minister Nicholas Biwott. [Photo|the-star.co.ke]
Later on October 30, the county witnessed its third high profile death following the sudden death of Eldoret Catholic Diocese Bishop Cornelius Korir.
Eldoret Catholic Diocese Bishop the late Cornelius Korir. [Photo|standardmedia.co.ke]
Bishop Korir known for his passion in preaching peace, unity and cohesion died while at his house in Elgon view estate.He would later be buried inside the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Eldoret town in a rare spectacle.