Six piece voting pattern appeal by Jubilee bosses in Rift Valley falls on deaf ears

Deputy President William Ruto and Uasin Gishu County governor Jackson Mandago (left), during Jubilee rally at Kapseret Constituency, where they asked residents to vote for Jubilee goverment. 10.06.2017. PHOTOS BY PETER OCHIENG/STANDARD

Aspirants contesting as independents and in political parties in the North Rift are still resisting calls for a 'six-piece suit' voting pattern as advocated for by Jubilee Party.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto were in the region last week and asked voters to vote for Jubilee nominees vying for positions as Members of the County Assembly all the way to the President.

Although residents assured them of solid support for the presidential vote, the top party leaders however encountered some defiance in some regions where the electorate indicated that they would make their own choices for other candidates.

Some independent and Kanu candidates who spoke yesterday said democracy should be embraced to enable the people to choose leaders who are performance-oriented.

"A 'six-piece' voting pattern as advocated by JP leaders is a retrogressive relic that should not come from top leaders," said Nicholas Koech, an independent governor candidate for Nandi County.

He said all independent candidates had agreed to operate under the slogan 'Let the people decide', adding that democracy should prevail and the manifestos of respective contestants "should speak louder than party chanting".

"If we go by party loyalty, then we will forget about development because we will not get good leaders who will perform to the expectations of the electorate. We urge JP to refrain from calling for 'six-piece' voting. The will of the people should be allowed to carry the day," said Mr Koech.

The youthful architect challenged opponents to a debate on issues affecting residents to enable voters to make informed choices.

Democracy prevails

Julius Kitur, who lost in the Jubilee primaries for the Turbo parliamentary seat, has added his weight in support of independent candidate Janet Rotich, saying democracy should prevail.

"We are not going against the DP but we will support independent candidate Rotich because she lives in Turbo," said Mr Kitur, who added that a 'six-piece suit' voting pattern would not work in Turbo.

Rotich will face Kevin Okwara, who won the Jubilee primaries, and David Songok who got a direct nomination from ODM.