Mandago Kiplagat Jackson is the current governor for Uasin Gishu County. He was elected into the gubernatorial space in 2013 under DP Rutto's URP party that has now been absorbed into Jubilee Alliance.
Mandago Jackson has been described by locals as an astute politician with less tolerance to non-performers. And indeed, few individuals will refute the fact that the county's headquarters, Eldoret town has realised appreciable sanity courtesy of Mandago.
Mandago has an equal share of credit and criticism for driving hawkers out of Eldoret CBD. In June 2016, several street families staged a major demonstration along the Eldoret streets in protest of killings that are allegedly perpetrated by the police, with the governor being blasted for not addressing the issue as expected.
He has also been faulted for entrusting prime county government positions to people from his political backyards.
Sometime in 2015, Mandago was rumored to have fallen out with DP William Ruto after Aden Duale, who is believed to be DP's foreman stated that the party was not comfortable with his candidature come 2017.
However, everything now seems to have been corrected as the governor enjoys a cordial relationship with William Ruto, who hails from his county.
The 2017 gubernatorial race is expected to be more stiffer owing to the influx of seasoned politicians who have already expressed interest to unseat Mandago.
However, the county boss has already sensed defeat, a fact that has since compelled him to appeal to his fellow aspirants to venture into other unoccupied elective positions.
Among those eyeing Mandago's seat are the Nandi County Health Chief, Dr Edward Serem and the Kenyan Ambassador to Pakistani state, Prof Julius Bitok.