Is Mandago Eying the Uasin Gishu Senatorial Seat?
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has dropped a hint that he might be going for the Senatorial seat in the upcoming general elections slated for August 2020.
KHISA CJ
Speaking at Kipkenyo ward in Kapseret Sub County during the launch of multiple county projects on Friday, Mandago asked locals to allow him to plan for who will be the person that will represent the county in the senate.
The seat is currently held by Prof Margaret Kamar who also doubles up as the Senate Deputy Speaker.
There have been rumors that Mandago was interested in going for the seat, keeping in mind that he is serving his second and last term as the governor.
“Issue of who becomes Member of Parliament, Governor or Member of County Assembly does not concern me but this one of Senate, let me plan for it,” Mandago told locals.
He also dismissed assumptions that one must have a professional legal background to vie for the seat.
“I hear people saying Senate needs lawyer, is Kamar a lawyer? And Lusaka (The Senate Speaker) was he, not a District Commissioner (DC),” Mandago noted.
With the latest declaration, it is almost assured that the vocal county boss is weighing his options to go for the seat as he seeks to remain actively involved in politics.
Prof Kamar has remained a loyalist for the Jubilee party, and it is unlikely that she will be shifting to the popular United Democratic Alliance (UDA) if she opts to seek re-election.
Mandago is likely to face off with among others, lawyer Kipchumba Karori, whose name has also been mentioned as a potential front runner for the seat.
