Voting is taking place in Baringo County as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) holds its party nominations for the senatorial seat. The position fell vacant after the death of Senator William Cheptumo on February 16, 2025.
The exercise began on Saturday, September 20, across the county. However, some polling stations reported delays. At Marigat Primary School in Baringo South, voting had not started by mid-morning due to a technical hitch. The issue was linked to delayed activation codes for the electronic voting gadgets.
In Kabarnet, Baringo Central, turnout was slow. Only 16 out of 930 registered voters had cast their ballots by the morning.
Six Candidates in the Race
Initially, ten aspirants had been cleared to vie for the UDA ticket. Over the past three months, they campaigned across all six sub-counties. Regional rivalries were evident, as each area fronted its own candidate.
However, four of the aspirants later withdrew in support of stronger contenders. This left six candidates in the race:
- Sylas Tochim
- Vincent Chemitei
- Isaac Chebon
- Wycliffe Kipsang Tobole
- Daniel Kiptoo
- Evans Mundulel
High Stakes for November
The winner of today’s nominations will represent UDA in the November 27 by-election. The contest is expected to be tough, as KANU chairman Gideon Moi is widely tipped to join the race.
With 281,059 registered voters and 1,029 polling stations in Baringo, the stakes are high. The outcome of the UDA primaries will shape the county’s political future and set the tone for the upcoming by-election.
