President Uhuru Kenyatta. [Photo/radiojambo.co.ke]
The Jubilee Party is seriously concerned over the high number of independent candidates in the Rift Valley region, its stronghold.
The independents are mainly losers in the party primaries, who expressed dissatisfaction in the manner in which the elections were conducted.
They accused Jubilee’s top leadership of influencing the nomination results.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party is also facing a strong challenge from Chama Cha Mashinani and Kanu in the vote rich Rift Valley.
Kanu chairman Gideon Moi and CCM’s Isaac Ruto have made inroads in Jubilee strongholds by fielding candidates in almost all elective positions. This could deny the President a large number of MPs.
Some of the counties where fierce political battles are expected between Jubilee and other parties in the Rift Valley are Nakuru, Bomet, Baringo, Kericho, Narok, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi and West Pokot.
In Bomet, the CCM party leader –also a NASA principal - and independent candidates will give Jubilee a run for its money.
Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto at a past CCM rally. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Governor Ruto will fight it out with National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso of Jubilee, as a number of politicians whom he enticed with direct tickets square it out for various elective seats.
Bomet East is leading with the largest number of independents with four aspirants raring to take on Jubilee’s Beatrice Kones and CCM’s Kevin Kipng’etich.
Kanu has cleared 200 candidates to fight it out with Jubilee for various elective positions with the independence party targeting at least 50 seats in Uasin Gishu.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago will fight it out with Jubilee primaries loser Zedekiah Kiprop also known as “Buzeki” who will be vying as an independent and Kanu’s Felix Butit.