Kericho supremacy battle goes up a notch as Kanu convenes in Kapkatet

After Deputy President William Ruto pleaded with Kericho voters not to disappoint him, Kanu will hold a campaign rally today for its candidate.

The meeting in support of Paul Sang is to be held at the historic Kapkatet Stadium, ahead of the March 7 senatorial by-election.

It comes two days after Ruto flew into a gathering political storm in the county but went ahead to hold two public rallies where he pledged goodies to the residents.

During the visit, Ruto sought to dispel the perception that the Jubilee administration had shortchanged the South Rift region, saying the Government is expected to spend Sh15 billion on road projects there.

The DP said millions of shillings had also been set aside for the construction of Premier-Taplotin road and a contractor had already been identified.

"President Kenyatta and I made these promises to the people of the South Rift region and we are going to fulfill each and every pledge that we made not because of the March 7 senatorial by-election but because we are committed to serve you," Ruto told residents of Kedowa where he held one of the rallies on Wednesday.

He asked Kericho voters to back the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) candidate Aaron Cheruiyot to reciprocate the appointment to the Cabinet of the immediate former senator, Charles Keter.

"What game is this you are trying to play? The Government appointed Keter to the Cabinet and we thought that the people would reciprocate the gesture by supporting the Jubilee candidate. I did not have any idea that I would be forced to campaign so hard," said Ruto.

But Kanu will today seek to capitalise on the rebellion, as Kanu National Chairman and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi will be leading the campaign team for Mr Sang, the former Bureti MP, whose growing popularity with voters has shaken the Jubilee camp.

The party has also received support from the Musalia Mudavadi-led Amani National Congress. Kanu has also been buoyed by support from officials of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) who have been mobilising their members to vote for Sang, a former teacher.

JAP candidate Cheruiyot appealed to the electorate to vote for him.

Ruto disclosed that the Government contract for the construction of at least 150km of roads in the county had been awarded and contractors would be on site by the end of the month.

Additional reporting by Karanja Njoroge