Vincent Kiprono Chemitei has clinched the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) senatorial ticket in Baringo County after a decisive win in the party primaries, marking a new chapter in the county’s charged political landscape.
Chemitei garnered 34,612 votes in the first-ever electronic voting exercise, beating his closest challenger Wycliffe Kipsang Tobole, who polled 24,683 votes, while Daniel Kiptoo came third with 15,343 votes. UDA officials hailed the digital system as a significant step towards credibility and transparency in party nominations.
But Chemitei’s win carries a dramatic backstory. Months earlier, during a public event where Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was unveiling UDA senatorial aspirants, tensions boiled over between him and Tobole. In a moment captured on video, Tobole was seen shoving Chemitei and dismissively telling him: “Usijali, wenye kura ni wananchi” — loosely meaning “Don’t worry, the voters are the ones who decide.”
The incident forced the Deputy President to step in, urging aspirants to maintain decorum and respect the will of the people. Kindiki cautioned against internal wrangles, warning that disunity would weaken the party’s standing in a county considered a stronghold.
That confrontation has since become a defining backdrop to Chemitei’s political journey, framing his victory as both a personal vindication and a test of whether UDA can rally its grassroots behind one flagbearer.
Analysts note that while Chemitei’s numbers give him a strong mandate, uniting rival camps will be his biggest hurdle ahead of the 2027 general elections. Tobole’s influence in parts of Baringo remains notable, and whether his supporters will fall in line behind Chemitei could determine the party’s cohesion in the region.
With the primaries settled, all eyes now turn to how Chemitei navigates the road ahead — balancing triumph with reconciliation in a county where political rivalries run deep.
