[Rebecca Tonkei, widow to George Saitoti’s deceased bodyguard Joshua Tonkei in a past event. She will be ODM flag bearer in Narok Women Representative seat. Photo/Nation]
Rebecca Tonkei, widow to former Interior Minister George Saitoti’s bodyguard Joshua Tonkei, will carry ODM flag in Narok Women Representative race on August.
Ms Tonkei garnered 45, 479 votes against her closest challenger Eunice Marima who managed 5, 674 votes. Pauline Kinyarkuo emerged third with 4, 592 during Saturday’s ODM primaries in Narok.
Narok County has been earmarked by ruling Jubilee Party as one of the tossup region and has seen both opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta visiting in a number of occasions.
While still Odinga banks on gubernatorial aspirant Patrick Ntutu, Emurua Dikir MP Yohanna Ng’eno and city lawyer Ledama Ole Kina to deliver for him, Kenyatta has a backing of incumbent Governor Samuel Tunai.
The Saturday’s results put Ms. Tonkei at a pole position to clinch the seat in August where she will battle it out with incumbent Soipan Kudate of Jubilee.
Mr. Tonkei died in a plane crash at Kibiku forest in 2012 along with his boss George Saitoti and outspoken former Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode.
Narok County is largely cosmopolitan but clan politics is believed to be key during voting.