ELGEYO MARAKWET — City businessman and political aspirant Tim Kipchumba has officially rejected the results of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) primaries for the county’s Senate by-election, citing irregularities that he says compromised the fairness of the exercise. The primaries, held on November 26, 2022, declared former Marakwet West MP William Kisang as the winner after he secured 28,126 votes, narrowly beating Kipchumba’s 26,756 votes and Jonah Tanui’s 26,735 votes.
Kipchumba took to Twitter to express his concerns, stating that although the primaries were intended to be free and fair under the oversight of President William Ruto, the exercise was marked by countless irregularities. He thanked his supporters and fellow aspirants while promising a detailed statement in the coming days. Kisang, on the other hand, accepted the outcome, thanking voters and emphasizing that the results reflected the will of the people. The official declaration of Kisang as the UDA nominee was made by returning officer Nicodemus Bore, who issued the party certificate.
The rejection of the nomination has intensified political tension in the county, which is considered a stronghold of UDA. Analysts say the dispute could affect voter sentiment and campaign strategies in the upcoming by-election, scheduled for January 5, 2023. The contest was triggered by the resignation of former Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, who vacated the seat after being appointed a Cabinet Secretary by President Ruto. Observers note that while Kisang currently leads as the frontrunner, the disagreements within UDA may influence party cohesion and the overall dynamics of the race.