The Turkana Community living in Trans Nzoia County has distanced itself from endorsing a gubernatorial candidate in the next general election.
In a statement issued by their chairman, David Esokhon, the community has accused those spreading rumors on social media that the community has made its final decision to support Dr. Chris Wamalwa in his ambition to become the second governor.
Esokhon said that the Turkana community had their own meeting that was held at Ndura’s Park, and Dr. Chris passed by to greet them, but nobody endorsed him for the gubernatorial seat.
“As a community, we have not endorsed anybody, so let them not run up and down with rumors that we have decided, we have not, and let them not spread what is not there,” said Esokhon.
He said the community is still weighing on whom to support and they will reveal at the right time the candidate who will in return give them a slot in the next county government as the community.
He added that the community will hold its meeting in May 2022 to decide whom to support.
The community benefited from the CEC slot in the first administration of Governor Patrick Khaemba’s government.
For unknown reasons, the Executive Committee in charge of Environment and Natural Resources officer, Maurice Lokwalia, served until the second term of Khaemba’s administration before he resigned.
According to Esokhon, the Turkana Community in 2017 had 36,000 registered voters in the county and the number is expected to increase this year.
The county has attracted four gubernatorial candidates: Dorcus Njenga (ODM), Dr. Chris Wamalwa (FK), former Rift Regional Commissioner George Natembeya (DAP-K) and Philemon Samoe (UDA Party).
Each candidate is employing a different strategy to secure votes from the county’s various communities.
According to 2017 IEBC data, the county has 339,622 registered voters.
Mike Musungu is a reporter at Radio Simba in Bungoma and a correspondent of Trans Nzoia County for the Western Kenya Times.
