Waititu’s controversial meeting with Governor Mandago in Eldoret

dennis kibet

June 14, 2017 7:40 AM

Uhuru and Ruto's presence has failed to tone down the heightened ethnic and political temperatures in the county.

Kiambu Jubilee Governor nominee Ferdinand Waititu (right) with Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago.

Despite the country’s top leadership; President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto camping in Uasin Gishu for close to a week now, their presence has failed to tone down the heightened political temperatures in the populous county.

At the centre of the storm is the rivalry between Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and his arch-rival Bundotich Kiprop, also known as Buzeki.

Mandago has led a group of North Rift politicians who include Governor Alex Tolgos of Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi in an all no holds barred attack on Buzeki who is running for the gubernatorial seat as an independent.

A key bone of contention is the Kikuyu community support of Buzeki in Uasin Gishu County.

The issue is has degenerated into rising ethnic tensions in the area that Mandago last week during a rally warned that if the community voted for Buzeki in the August polls, he would rally their supporters to vote against the Jubilee Party.

According to The Star, the situation forced Mandago to hold an urgent meeting with leaders from the Kikuyu community that was organised by Kiambu Jubilee Governor nominee Ferdinand Waititu, popularly known as Baba Yao.

The meeting was meant to call a truce between the leaders who have been arguing over the Kikuyu community’s support for Buzeki.

In attendance were over 10 individual Kikuyu leaders (including including Uasin Gishu Water executive Mary Njogu), businessmen in the area and MCAs Peter Chomba (Huruma) and Francis Muya (Langas).

“We met but nothing was agreed,” Chomba said.

The leaders said Kenyatta and Ruto should let residents elect a leader of their choice.

Last week during a tour of the region, Ruto publicly told Buzeki to step down for Mandago to unite the area and ensure maximum votes for Jubilee.

However, Buzeki has defied calls for him to step down vowing he will be on the ballot in August.

dennis kibet