Unease in UDA as Pkosing, Lonyangapuo's political rivalry escalates

Former West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo. [Silas Otieno, Standard]

A storm is brewing in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA)  in West Pokot County after a section of Kenya Union Party (KUP) leaders joined the ruling party.

Former West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo and Pokot South MP David Pkosing of KUP have joined UDA, causing jitters.

Prof Lonyangapuo joined the Kenya Kwanza team immediately after the 2022 General Election and was appointed the chairman of the Rift Valley Water Works Agency.

On Saturday, Pkosing, a perceived rebel in the region and a critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration declared his intention to join the ruling party.

This comes after President William Ruto while in West Pokot three weeks ago welcomed the Pokot South MP and Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee to the UDA fold.

However, this has sparked unease in UDA with a section of leaders in the county siding with Prof Lonyangapuo appearing uncomfortable with Pkosing and Lotee's decision to join the party.

West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin hit out at leaders not willing to welcome the Pokot South MP and Kacheliba MP into the ruling party.

Speaking on Saturday in Kapenguria town, Kachapin said: “A party needs to be strong, we need people to strengthen the party and we will not accept those who want to chase people away. The party chairman decided to welcome people.” 

The governor faulted a faction led by Prof Lonyangapuo saying their intentions of joining the party were suspect.

“Our friends have an Azimio person yet they don’t want us to associate with the other. If we beat them, let them not escape because we hear they want to get out of the party,” he said.

“I don’t fear democracy, how can a governor with structures on the ground and in charge of your resources fail to be chairman of a party? How can someone sitting in Nairobi become the county party chairperson? That is underrating me, why should the former governor insult me? I will organize them in UDA,” he said.

The two factions have revealed their 2027 lineup and have embarked on seeking the support of residents.

The Kachapin-Pkosing team (Message team), has Kacheliba MP Lotee, former Sigor MP Phillip Rotino and West Pokot county assembly Speaker Fredrick Kaptui and a section of MCAs.

Already, the “Message team” has revealed that they will be fronting Pkosing as governor, Kachapin as Senator, and Sekerr MCA Jane Mengich as Woman Representative.

Those eyeing parliamentary seats are Lotee (Kacheliba), Fredrick Kaptui (Pokot South), the County Roads Executive Reuben Lotumale and Phillip Rotino will square it out in Sigor parliamentary race while Kenya High Commissioner to Zambia Lillian Tomitom will try her luck in Kapenguria parliamentary race.

Prof Lonyangapuo-led team dubbed 5G Network has West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong, Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto, West Pokot Woman Representative Rael Kasiwai, former Kacheliba MP Mark Lomukonol and former Principal Secretary James Tekoo.

West Pokot Deputy Governor Robert Komolle who also anticipates to succeed his boss and former Senate Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio have remained mum and are yet to join any camp.

“I will vie for governorship on UDA ticket come 2027. Governor will vie for the senator’s seat and there is no hiding anymore. Jane Mengich will go for the Woman Representative seat,” Mr Pkosing declared.

The Pokot South MP claimed that his faction got 7,800 delegates in the county UDA grassroots compared to their counterparts who got 3,000.

Lotee supports Kachapin to go for the Senate seat in 2027.  “The President welcomed us into the party but others wanted to chase us. They took the sacrament and placed it in a pocket. They started giving us poisoned sacrament. We knew it was poisoned,” he said.

West Pokot County Assembly Speaker Kaptuil told off those opposed to the 'Message team' in UDA. “No one should threaten you,” he said.