Billionaire businessman Zedekiah Bundotich alias Buzeki who is vying for the Uasin Gishu gubernatorial seat as an independent candidate. [Photo: file]
Deputy President William Ruto has revealed that he called billionaire businessman Zedekiah Bundotich alias Buzeki and asked him to wait until 2022 to vie for the Uasin Gishu gubernatorial seat after he lost to incumbent Jackson Mandago in the Jubilee party primaries.
Ruto, who spoke during a political rally in Kapseret, Uasin Gishu, Saturday, however said Buzeki refused to heed to his calls and insisted that he must vie for the seat.
"I told him to vie for the seat in the year 2022 but he refused to listen," Ruto told hundreds of Jubilee supporters who had turned up for the rally.
There has been claims that Buzeki is DP Ruto's project and efforts by governor Mandago's camp to have the billionaire prevailed upon to step down has hit a snag.
Buzeki vying as an independent candidate has in the past ruled out any possibility of withdrawing from the race saying "my supporters asked me to vie and I will be disappointing them if I quit."
The decision as to who will be the Uasin Gishu governor between Mandago and Buzeki after August 8th now lies solely in the hands the electorate.
Buzeki has a huge following among the non-Kalenjins and is giving Mandago a run for his money.
During the Jubilee party primaries in April, Mandago garnered over 124,000 votes while Buzeki had slightly over 82,000 votes.