The possible entry of President Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet into the race for Turbo constituency MP race has excited the area and overall politics in Uasin Gishu county ahead of next year’s polls.
Kibet has for the last three years carried out extensive development activities including youth and women empowerment initiatives which have thrust him at center of Uasin Gishu politics.
In Turbo which is his home constituency Kibet has not out rightly declared his bid for the MP seat but owing to his grassroot activities he is now under pressure to vie in next year’s polls.
The seat is currently held by legislator Janet Sitienei who is doing her second term in parliament and will be making a third run come next year.
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Kibet has been vocal on matters education, youth and women empowerment, healthcare, sports development, cohesion, peace and unity along with religious harmony.
“I believe leadership is not just about positions and political power. It’s also about looking at the well being of our people In a wholesome approach dealing with issues that affect their lives”, says Kibet.
From a humble person who grew up in the hills of Chepsaita, Kibet rose through struggles to become a vocal community leader, then a nominated councillor and he worked closely with President Ruto who previously served as MP for the larger Eldoret North constituency which was later split to create Turbo and Soy constituencies.
Kibet is a self made leader in Uasin Gishu who despite serving as Ruto’s aide, has maintained a humble touch with residents of Turbo and other parts of the country where has been aggressively mobilizing leaders and Kenyans for empowerment activities.
Unlike during other previous elections, few aspirants have come out to declare interest in the Turbo MP seat with many saying they are waiting to see what moves Kibet will make ahead of the elections
One of the aspirants told The Star that he would rather wait and see arguing that if Kibet will be in the race then it would be a bigger task to face off with him.
“Farouk has immense capacity to mobile friends and resources the way he had done for the last three years and for some of us it will be hard to match his capacity”, said the aspirant.
Popularly referred to as Farouk, he is well known for his rallying call-“Turbo Kwanza, Mambo baadaye” which has placed him ahead as he insists on dealing with issues affecting residents first then politics and other issue come later.
“It’s Turbo and its people first and not me seeking leadership just for the sake of it”, he said.
MP Sitienei is however a strong grassroot leader who is known to display rare humility and simplicity in her leadership.
Many a times she arrives at events or public meetings unnoticed and usually takes a seat with the ordinary residents making her not an easy politician to challenges
A resident Joseph Tanui said Sitienei easily attracts sympathy and love from residents and with time she has proved to be a hard nut to crack having won the seat first as an independent candidate and then through UDA.
There are several other people being mentioned as aspirants including Eliel Cheruiyot and Willy Korir but they are yet to come out strongly and join the race.
But its Kibet’s extensive grassroot activities that will make the difference because his programmes have so far touched many people and homes in the areas
Kibet’s flagship activities in the area is the Chepsaita Cross Country race which usually attracts thousands of runners from the world to the area where he has used the race to mobile resources for education scholarships and other projects including healthcare and provision of water to residents.
With the theme “Running for Education”-Kibet who is the patron of the race has used it to provide education scholarships for over 5,000 learners, developed athletics in the country and also finance expansion of school facilities in the area.
Due to his extensive development activities in Uasin Gishu, Kibet is now a political powerhouse in the region where has also been vocal on other issues including security, alcohol and abuse of drugs which he says have ruined the lives of many residents especially the youth.
Kibet is expected to play a bigger role in role in determining who will become the governor of Uasin Gishu in next year’s polls and he has also maintained a cordial relationship with other leaders in the region including Governor Jonathan Bii.
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