Businessman-politician Bundotich Kiprop Buzeki has delayed naming the party on which he will vie for governor in Uasin Gishu.
The race to succeed outgoing Governor Jackson Mandago has intensified.
Buzeki declined to comment when he was contacted by the Star. Reports are circulating that he was considering running as an independent, as he did last time against Mandago.
“There is still time and we can talk about that later,” Buzeki said.
He is considered a front-runner for the seat which has attracted more than nine other aspirants, including Soy MP Caleb Kositany.
Buzeki quit the CCM party as secretary general after CCM boss Isaac Rutto, who is the former Bomet governor, declared support for Deputy President Ruto.
The businessman is at political loggerheads with DP Ruto and said he will stick to his principles and offer his manifesto, rather than be a sycophant.
Eight are interested in running on the ticket of the UDA Party linked to Deputy President William Ruto.
Mandago, of the Jubilee Party, will be completing his second term in DP Ruto’s home county. Ruto’s hustler movement party, UDA, is dominating Rift politics.
Kositany is a Ruto ally, as are a number of other aspirants.
Leading aspirants include Kenya’s envoy to Pakistan, Professor Julius Bitok, and politician Jonathan Bii, a former Kanu official who joined the hustlers.
Bitok has a rich education background, long working experience in public service and international connections because of his position as envoy. He is the only aspirant from the southern part of Uasin Gishu.
Mandago, Bii and Kostany are from the Soy constituency in the north and a some political leaders argue it’s time the governorship went to the south.
“I will be in the race and I’m ready to take the county to the next level after Mandago,” Bitok said. He ran against Mandago nine years ago but lost in Jubilee primaries. He came second.
However Bii has already caused ripples and demonstrated he can upset influential people.
Bii hit the ground running to market himself three years ago and none of the other aspirants has covered the ground as he has.
Businessman Charles Kigen who came third in Jubilee for 2017 said he will seek the UDA ticket.
He is an expert in strategic management and a former director at Kenya Industrial Estates. Kigen wants to expand the manufacturing sector to create wealth and jobs.
Uasin Gishu Assembly Speaker David Kiplagat is yet to confirm his candidature, as is Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno. Chemno is highly respected and would be a strong candidate.
Uasin Gish’s governo’s race has also sparked intense rivalry between the majority Nandi and Keiyo, which are the Kalenjin sub-tribes in the county.
More than 30 per cent of its popular are non-local communities.
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