Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei is facing a daunting task in her bid for a third term with more challengers expressing their desire to unseat her.
More than 20 aspirants have already declared their intentions to run for the seat in the 2027 elections.
Shollei, one of the most vocal UDA legislators in the region, secured the party ticket and won the seat in both the 2017 and 2022 elections.
But her bid for a third term is facing upheavals, given the shifting political dynamics in the cosmopolitan county.
Her political standing has also been tested by differences with some of the county’s influential political figures, notably Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, who has publicly asked residents not to re-elect Shollei.
Sudi accuses Shollei of failing to attend important events meant to benefit residents, criticism that exposed tensions among leaders in President William Ruto’s political backyard.
Shollei hit back, insisting that she operates independently and does not have to attend every function organised by other leaders.
“No one can dictate or control me on how I work for my people. It's not a must that I attend all functions organised by everyone. I have been organising and attending functions with residents of Uasin Gishu as per my mandate,” she said.
Shollei has since stepped up her grassroots activities as she seeks to retain the seat while also campaigning for Ruto’s re-election.
Among those seeking to challenge her is businesswoman and politician Getrude Chemutai Kurgat, who previously contested the Turbo parliamentary seat.
Chemutai has intensified her grassroots mobilisation and is promoting what she describes as a fresh approach to leadership under the slogan “Mama ni Youth”.
She says her focus will be on being accessible to residents and involving them in decisions affecting the office of the Woman Representative.
“If elected as Woman Rep for our county, I will bring in a fresh style of leadership by ensuring that I will be very present and close to my voters so that we work together, applying public participation in running all affairs of that office,” Chemutai said.
She has also made equitable distribution of bursaries and other resources a central part of her campaign, promising to focus on young people, women, the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Chemutai says she will use her networks to attract additional resources and development programmes to supplement the National Government Affirmative Action Fund.
She also wants to promote economic empowerment through training, value addition and other income-generating activities, while giving greater attention to issues such as gender-based violence, femicide and teenage pregnancies.
Shollei’s supporters, however, point to her record in supporting needy students through NGAAF bursaries and programmes targeting women groups.
Officials at her office say she has supported women groups through table banking and other funding models across the county.
She has also been associated with projects including the Moi’s Bridge Police Station, which her office says she helped initiate.
Her personal story remains a key part of her political messaging. Shollei has frequently spoken about progressing from scoring low marks in CPE to becoming an A student, using her experience to argue that vulnerable members of society can be supported to improve their lives.
But some residents argue that she has devoted too much attention to national politics at the expense of her county mandate.
“This time she will have to fight hard to be re-elected because we have more active and focused aspirants seeking to occupy that office,” said resident Jane Tanui.
Deputy Speaker of the Uasin Gishu County Assembly Sarah Malel, who is also the MCA for Kimumu, is another prominent name in the race.
Businesswoman Kate Kirui, nominated MCA Regina Chumba and Ameline Mutai have also expressed interest.
Others mentioned as possible challengers include Jenny Too, Sharon Chemutai, Zipporah Chebitok, Leonida Misoi, Irene Malel, Naomi Meto, Ruth Choge, Hellen Jeptoo and Flora Cheptum.
Malel has also stepped up her grassroots activities as she seeks to build support.
With the field expanding, the Uasin Gishu Woman Representative race is
shaping up as a contest not only over Shollei’s record, but also over who can
build the strongest grassroots network in a county where political alignments
are already shifting ahead of 2027.
Instant analysis
The Uasin Gishu Woman Representative race is becoming increasingly competitive, with Shollei facing a growing field of challengers and fresh grassroots mobilisation. Her public differences with Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi add another layer to the contest, while aspirants such as Getrude Chemutai Kurgat and Sarah Malel are building their own networks. The race will test Shollei’s incumbency, grassroots support and ability to navigate shifting political alliances ahead of 2027.
Uasin Gishu woman rep Gladys Shollei
