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Bomet County Woman Representative UDA candidate Linet Chepkorir, popularly known as Toto lighting a fire to prepare tea at home at Chemomul village in Bomet on April 19, 2022. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
“I grew up here. The stream down there is where we fetch water and wash clothes. We graze our cows in these fields and gather firewood in the village. I schooled here and had big dreams growing up here,” Toto says, as she gestures.
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Her story is inspiring. It was a dream that many thought was a joke, but her daring spirit silenced the doubting Thomases after she bagged the UDA ticket for the county MP seat.
She exudes confidence and has this hearty laughter. She is aware of ‘dissenting voices’.
“In this journey, many people will discourage you, many others will laugh and scoff at you but I always do not listen to them because they make me lose focus. I go for what I want because I believe I can,” she says.
And while Toto stands a chance of being one of the youngest legislators after the 2022 General Election, the 24-year-old is confident that she will deliver what she has always wanted for her people despite her little experience.
Toto with her brother Collins Yegon at home at Chemomul village in Bomet County on April 19, 2022. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
“I graduated last year but that does not make me inexperienced. Whenever youth apply for jobs, we are always told to share experiences but where will we get that experience if we are not given a chance? For us to gain the skills, we have to be on-the-job to learn the ropes and that is exactly what I will do,” she adds.
Like most girls and women in the village, her daily routine entails washing dishes, washing clothes, cooking and fetching firewood. She did all this before heading out to campaign.
“I do the chores then set off to campaign. These days I wake up earlier than usual because I have to finish my chores before I head out to meet the people,” she says.
Her decision to vie for a political seat shocked even her family.
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“To us, it was a big joke,” said Betty Lang’at, Toto’s mother.
She had only graduated a few months earlier.
“We had been struggling to see her and her six siblings through school. She is the third born and her two older siblings were yet to find jobs and here she was talking about getting into politics which requires money.
Toto (center) with relatives and neighbours at home at Chemomul village in Bomet County on April 19, 2022. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
“Like any parent, I wanted her to get a job and stop listening to those who were advising her to toss herself into politics. I thought they were all fooling her,” the mother added.
But it was not until Toto stood among other aspirants during a funeral in her village and publicly declared her interest to vie that the family knew she was serious.
“It caught me by surprise. When aspirants were called in front, Toto stood and joined them. We had dismissed her earlier as a family and we thought that was it. When she finally got a chance to speak and declare her interest, everyone burst into laughter. I froze because I thought it was a big shame but funny enough she did not look moved,” the mother added.
It did not take long for word to spread that a 24-year-old was eyeing a bigger seat, something which elicited a lot of interest.
“People kept calling me to ask if I was really serious, they knew I did not have money to finance my campaigns. But it got to a time that everyone bought the idea and even my family, church and friends endorsed me for the seat. People pooled in resources and I was ready to go,” she said.
She believes she has always had the leadership skills in her from when she was a girl in primary school.
“I knew there was something that was different with me. I always held a position in class throughout my schooling and even in church. I head the choir, I also lead the youth in many occasions,” she says.
In a world of murky politics, she has had a fair share of propaganda.
“At some point they said I was married to a man from some part of this country and that I had children. I have never been married neither do I have children,” she added.
An incident at Deputy President William Ruto’s Karen home in Nairobi sort of propelled her to fame. It was during a meeting of Rift Valley aspirants seeking UDA tickets. Toto attracted suspicion from the security detail.
“They told me, young girl, go and wait for your mother in the car until she is done with the meeting. The meeting is only for those invited’. When I explained to them that I was an aspirant they were so apologetic. They told me it was they way I had dressed that made them suspicious,” she added.
“But I had worn my best. Everything was new. My jumper was new and so was my dress and shoes. I even had a friend take a picture of me during the delegates' meeting which I wanted to archive it but when I posted it, it went viral and attracted thousands of comments.
So how did she acquire the name Toto?
According to her mother, the name was given to her by a Maasai neighbour who could not pronounce her name well.
“We were then living in Nakuru where my husband worked and our neighbour would always ask the baby’s name. But he would forget the following day and would keep asking. To make things easier, he named her Toto, a name which has stuck to date. Even after we moved from Nakuru and settled here, the name stuck. He at one time told us not to change the name because it was a blessed name, something which is manifesting years later,” Toto’s mother said.
And while Toto is hopeful that she will clinch the seat in the August elections, she says her determination, besides representing her county, is also to demystify the perception in Kenya’s politics that resources determine person’s success.
“I started out with nothing and people have always had the hope in me. It only takes passion and hard work to work on a dream,” she says.
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