Uasin Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago
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Uasin Gishu County gubernatorial race has adopted yet another twist after National Super Alliance (NASA) leaders endorsed incumbent Governor Jackson Mandago. The opposition leaders shocked many supporters who converged at Eldoret’s 64 stadium for a National Super Alliance (NASA) rally on Wednesday after they threw their weight behind the Jubilee party candidate, who has been a staunch critic of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga.
Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) party leader, who is also the Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, was the first to declare support for Mandago, while claiming that Bundotich Zedekiah Kiprop, popularly known as Buzeki was Deputy President William Ruto's project.
"I want to tell him (DP Ruto) that he cannot force leaders on people. In Bomet there is someone they want and here in Uasin Gishu there is also someone they prefer instead of Mandago," Governor Ruto said.
His endorsement was immediately seconded by Wiper Democratic Movement Party leader and NASA presidential running mate Kalonzo Musyoka.
"If I was a voter here, I would go for governor Jackson Mandago," added Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Mandago trounced Buzeki in the race for Jubilee party ticket during party primaries held in April. Buzeki ditched Jubilee party to contest for the seat as an independent candidate after claiming that he was rigged out of in favor of Mandago in the nominations.
A recent opinion poll by TIFA placed Buzeki ahead of Mandago in the Uasin Gishu race and the endorsement of the incumbent by NASA will likely spark new political rivalry between the two.