Pokot South Member of Parliament (MP) David Pkosing has retained his seat after garnering 28,225 out of the total 46,200 valid votes cast in the mini poll that was conducted yesterday with 71 percent voter turnout.
Pkosing under Kenya Union Party (KUP) was followed by his main challenger of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidate Simon Kalekem who managed 15,298 with James Teko coming third with 2,677 on an independent ticket.
Speaking during receiving of his election certificate at St Mark’s Chepareria AIC Social Hall on Tuesday morning, Pkosing termed the win a victory for the Pokot South residents claiming the postponements of the election was aimed at sabotaging the will of the electorates.
“This victory is from the Almighty God because there are things that have happened in this constituency that have never happened since creation. I must thank the people of Pokot South for speaking this loud granting me this victory,” said Pkosing.
He regretted that the election was not between him and his other competitors but a team of people he claimed were political saboteurs whose aim was to subvert the independent mindedness of the Pokot community.
The MP Elect added that the win was an indication that the KUP party had gained ground in the region despite it being less than one year old.
“The people of Pokot South and Kacheliba Constituencies have spoken loud by electing their legislators on KUP party which is a strong message. We thank our party leader Professor John Lonyangapuo and our party remains in Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition,” stated Pkosing.
He extended an olive branch to his competitors saying he welcomes them to work together for a better future of the Pokot region.
In Kacheliba Constituency Titus Lotee (KUP) beat his closest UDA challenger incumbent MP Mark Lomunokol with 20,073 against 17,963 and John Lodinyo coming third with 1,346 votes on a Kenya African National Union (KANU) party.
Accompanying the MP-elect, KUP party leader who is also the immediate former West Pokot governor John Lonyangapuo lauded the residents for turning up in large numbers to exercise their civic duty peacefully and according Pkosing an overwhelming victory.
Lonyangapuo said the maturity, patience and peace witnessed during the entire election process was of its own kind worth commendation.
He said his pride rests in having three members elected to join the national assembly with six others chosen to join the county assembly.
“This is no mean fete for our party since we shall have a voice not just at the county level but at the national level. We now have a bargaining power in the leadership of this country because we have three members of parliament under KUP and six MCAs who were elected in West Pokot,” posed Lonyangapuo while addressing supporters at Chepareria Town where business came to a stand.
He congratulated the MP elect for having been given another chance to serve residents for the third term.
Woman Representative-elect under KUP Rael Kasiwai lauded the residents for their determination in electing their leaders since it was one way of exercising their democratic right.
By Richard Muhambe and Anthony Melly
