Aspirant uses sports to win over electorates in Baringo

Tenges Ward aspirant Sylas Tochim.

Tenges ward aspirant in Baringo County is using sports for his campaigns.

Sylas Tochim is engaging his electorates in a new way where he organizes sporting events and use the platform to sell his manifestos.

A month ago, Sylas Tochim launched Tochim Volleyball tournament across the ward. The finals were held at Sorok primary school on Wednesday where seven teams reached the finals.

The tournament held across the ward with the aim of nurturing youth talent and creating employment through the annual sporting activity.

“I am very excited that the youth have embraced this initiative, I am very encouraged to add more games like football, table tennis, bike race and swimming, it also offers me and my opponents a forum to sell our policies,” said Tochim.

In the recent competition, the jubilant Sorok won and took the trophy and Sh 20,000. Eitui came second with Sh 10,000 while Cheplambus came third with Sh 5,000. Other teams were Kisonei, Lelbatai, Ochii, Kasereet and Bibain.

Tochim said through sports he has managed to pull crowds for his campaign and notes that has worked for him.

"In a single tournament's final, thousands of people turned up. This is the best way to bring women and young people to participate in decision making in politics," said Tochim who recently graduated at Coventry University.

He said through sports he has managed to discus with people about the poor development record in the ward despite devolved system which was to bring the resources closer to the people.

“We have bad roads, inadequate staff and insufficient medicine in our health centers, also there is no strategy to invest in skills and apprenticeships among the youth which is important and I will undertake,” said Tochim.

His opponents at the Jubilee party Joseph Loncho Kanga and Henry Kigen lauded the use of sports for politics saying that it was a unifying factor.

In the tournament Sorok emerged winner and walked away with a trophy and Sh20,000, Eitui came second and won Sh 10,000 while Cheplambus became third and was awarded Sh. 5,000. Other teams were Kisonei, Lelbatai, Ochii, Kasereet and Bibain.

The prizes were presented by Mr Kiptis, Baringo county gubernatorial aspirant and pledged to support the annual games to promote youth talent.

“The more youth engage in sports the more the community becomes healthy’” he added.