Aspirants raise game in Bungoma vote hunt

By GRACE WEKESA and DANIEL PSIRMOI

Bungoma, Kenya: Campaigns in the Bungoma senatorial by-election entered the homestretch with the four candidates making door-to-door and marketplace visits to woo voters.

Ford Kenya candidate Moses Wetang’ula traversed Webuye East Constituency, making stopovers at Mihuu and Sipala, while fellow candidates, Wakoli Bifwoli (Labour Party of Kenya) and David Makali (independent) campaigned in Kanduyi Constituency.

Makali urged voters to elect him promising to spearhead economic change in the county. He blamed the high levels of poverty on dependence on sugarcane farming, which he said was suitable for large-scale farming and urged farmers to embrace horticulture.

The candidates intensified their campaigns with 11 days to the vote the official end of the campaign period. Wetang’ula expressed confidence he would recapture the seat.

“This election is important to everyone in Bungoma and Kenya it will demonstrate how my seat was nullified through a biased petition, my competitors are projects with no agenda for the county,” Wetang’ula said.

Musikari Kombo (New Ford Kenya), pitched camp in Mt Elgon Constituency and made stopovers at Namwela, Kipsigon, Cheptais, Kopsiro, Kelebei and Kapsokwony.

Speaking at Kipsigo, Kombo said he was sure he would win.

“I am very confident that I will beat all my opponents and I assure the people of Bungoma that my first priority will be to bring development to the people who elected me,” Kombo said.

He added: “I have a very clean track record and if you vote for me then you will have the change you want to see in the county. Voting in peace is also something that I want to urge you not to forget,”Kombo said.

Citing his development record, Wakoli asked the voters to choose him if they hope to an end the constant political supremacy battles between Ford Kenya and New Ford Kenya parties.

“My development record in the county speaks for itself. Among other things, while serving as an assistant minister in the Kibaki government, I personally lobbied for the elevation of the then Kibabii Teachers College into a fully-fledged university,” he said.