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A Kenyan of Asian origin has defied all odds to be elected Member of Parliament, Kesses constituency.
Dr Swarup Ranjan Mishra, popularly nicknamed Kiprop Arap Chelule has become the first non-Kalenjin to be elected to parliament in Uasin Gishu County.
Dr. Mishra running on jubilee ticket won by a landslide by garnering 42,952 (89.92%) votes, followed by Kanu candidate, Cornelius kipkorir in a distant second who only managed to get 2618 votes (5.48%).
Coming in at third position was Gilbert Kipsang Koskei who managed 2196 (4.60%) votes running as an independent candidate.
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After being handed the parliamentary certificate by IEBC, Dr. Mishra took to social media to sincerely thank the residents of kesses.
“I am honored and humbled that in a free and fair elections you, the people of Kesses, have placed your trust in me to lead you as your next Kesses Member of Parliament.”
“As I assume office, I promise to do my part, but I need every Kessessian to play their part as well. We will honour our pledges, pursue the ideals and uphold the values enshrined in our Manifesto.
Thank you and may the almighty God bless you.KONGOI” he posted on his facebook page.
A total of 47766 valid votes were cast, 701 rejected and 8 objected votes according to IEBC.
His journey to parliament was not an easy one though, after clinching the Jubilee ticket in the hotly contested nominations, he was brutally attacked near his office by a group of unknown men believed to have been hired by his political rivals.
He is a medic by profession and the owner of Mediheal Group of Hospitals.
Dr Swarup Mishra, who was born in Odiasha, Eastern India speaks a little bit of Kalenjin, moved to Kenya in late 90s where he fell in love with the Kenyan irresistible climate.
“I must say that Eldoret has the best weather in the world. We came to this town in 1997. My wife landed a job at Eldoret Hospital as a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology. I also got a job at Moi University’s School of Medicine as a lecturer in the reproductive department. My job sometimes demanded that I travel to Keiyo and Kabarnet to conduct operations and surgical procedures in obstetrics and gynaecology,” Mishra told a local daily in the past.
Mishra holds a postgraduate degree in obstetrics and gynaecology from Rajsthan University in Northern India, where he first met his wife Dr. Pallavi Ayenger as classmates.