Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) party leader Isaac Ruto has conceded defeat in the recent race for the Bomet governor’s seat, which is a major relief for Governor-elect Hillary Barchok of the United Democratic Alliance, whose inauguration is scheduled for Thursday.
Prof Barchok received 158,898 votes to Mr Ruto’s 137,323 votes in the August 9 election, while Mr Benard Mutai (ANC) received 1,915 votes and Mr Andrew Towett (GP) received 508 votes.
Mr Ruto, the former chairman of the Council of Governors and the first Bomet governor, said he chose to step down to allow voters in the region to heal.
On Saturday evening, he appeared in public for the first time since being admitted to Nairobi Hospital on August 9, saying it was time for the residents of Bomet to return to normalcy.
He spoke after a four-hour closed-door meeting with Prof Barchok, Mr Mutai, and Kericho governor-elect Erick Mutai at his Tumoi home in Chepalungu Constituency.
“My political record speaks for itself, that I am not that kind of a person who disputes election results and interferes with the term of elected leaders. I respect the will of the people in any election,” Mr Ruto said.
When he loses an election, Mr Ruto says it is not in his nature to interfere with his competitors’ administration of people’s affairs.
“When I lost to the late Dr Joyce Laboso in 2017 election, I threw in the towel despite the glaring anomalies then and supported her administration. The same case when I lost to Mr John Koech as MP for Chepalungu in 2002. I let him run the show until I was subsequently re-elected,” Mr Ruto said.
Prof Barchok commended Mr Ruto for conceding defeat and promised to carry everyone on board in his last term at the helm of the county’s leadership.
“We came here as Bomet and Kericho counties leadership to wish Mr Ruto well after he fell sick and we are happy that he has recovered and is in robust health,” Prof Barchok said.
He said there was a great opportunity to unite the people from different political divides with focus on development after the election.
“In our meeting today and the subsequent ones, we have agreed that we will seek a united front, put our differences aside and seek to address the needs of the people,” Prof Barchok said.
“We have politics behind us. There are those who supported Isaac, Mutai and Tonui, but they should all know that election is over and it is time to unite the people,” added the governor-elect.
