{UAH} Ocne/Pojim/WBK: Standard Digital News - Governor Ruto's candidate floors Jubilee's in Bomet ward by-election

Ruto hands Uhuru's JAP a major blow ahead of 2017

				Ruto hands Uhuru's JAP a major blow ahead of 2017 Tuko News ☛ Bomet governor Isaac Ruto has helped his favourite candidate beat that backed by Jubilee in the Nyongores ward by-election.
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Governor Ruto's candidate floors Jubilee's in Bomet ward by-election

– Their differences have played out openly in the recent past and the governor was believed to have dug his political grave by opposing the Rift Valley kingpin

– However, the governor has beaten JAP in the Nyongores ward by-election by helping his candidate floor that backed by Jubilee

Bomet governor Isaac Ruto has registered the first win against his friend-turned-foe Deputy President William Ruto ahead of the 2017 general election.

A candidate allied to the fiery governor floored that allied to the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) in the hotly contested Nyongores ward by-election held on Friday, February 12, in Bomet county.

People's Patriotic Party of Kenya's (PPPK) candidate Andrew Maritim whom the governor has spent time campaigning for thrashed his Jubilee counterpart Richard Leitich with a big margin.

With results from only one polling station remaining, Maritim had garnered 4,726 votes against JAP candidate Leitich's 2,480. There are 30 polling stations in the ward.

By the time the final vote was counted, the results were as follows:

Andrew Maritim (PPPK) – 4,796 (62.26%)

Richard Leitich (JAP) – 2,881 (37.40%)

Terer Benard – 26 (0.34%)

Registered Voters – 11,312 Turnout (71.25%)

"We have shown the party belonging to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto that Bomet can make independent decisions despite the fact that they brought 24 MPs to campaign for their candidate," Ruto said as quoted by Standard.

The PPP-K candidate received a boost after Baringo Senator and KANU Chairman Gideon Moi alongside Zipporah Kittony (nominated senator), Prof John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot senator) among other leaders supported his candidature.

Nyongores ward seat was left vacant following the death of former MCA Cecilia Towett in a road accident in Narok in 2015.

The latest serves to boost Governor Ruto's political ambition after a fallout with Jubilee and his close ally William Ruto.

The two have in the past let their differences play out openly as the rift in the Valley continues to widen ahead of the general election.

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Many predicted that the governor had dug his political grave by opposition the Rift Valley kingpin, but the latest triumph serves to send a warning that the race is tighter than expected.