A video of Soy MP Caleb Kositany telling off Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter has resurfaced sparking outrage on social media.
In an undated video that was reportedly taken in 2018, the Soy MP accuses Keter of disrespecting the people of Nandi community.
Alfred Keter vs Caleb Kositany
Speaking in Nandi dialect, Kositany said he would have rallied people from the Nandi community to support Keter if he was one of their own. Keter is a Kipsigis.
He demanded Kipsigis leaders to ‘teach’ Keter how to live with people having been elected to represent Nandis.
Caleb Kositany a Nandi, can't hide his hate for Kipsigis, the LARGEST block of the KALENJIN nation. Make no Mistakes, we have been singing this for years. And now you need no more proof than what Kositany is saying below. He thinks Kipsigis don't deserve to lead. Hii ni MADHARAU pic.twitter.com/MSfFQIxAAy— Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) April 25, 2022
“If Alfred Keter was Nandi, I’d have told elders to support him but he’s a Kipsigis. I want to tell Kipsigis elders to come for their son, and mentor him to know how to live with people.
“He came to Nandi and he was elected and we initiated him but he’s not a Nandi. Let Kipsigis elders come for their son and when he’s mature he can return here,” Kositany said as captured in the video.
The remarks sparked mixed reactions from the political class with Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok accusing Kositany of causing division in the wider Kalenjin community.
In a statement on his socials, Barchok urged the MP to apologize and withdraw his statement which he termed unfortunate.
“Whereas the unfortunate remarks are from past years, it gives a fertile opportunity to our detractors to plant seeds of discord amongst our Kalenjin family. We must all endeavour to always jealously guard our unity
“Our UDA, Hustler Nation philosophy is founded on the spirit of a united nation, with one big tribe called Kenya. Let's not accept the invitation to any form of disunity and disharmony by allowing seeds of discord to be planted amongst us,” Barchok said.
This comes just days after the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party Electoral and Nominations Dispute Resolution Committee nullified Nandi Hills parliamentary nominations results.
The incumbent MP Alfred Keter was initially declared the winner of the primaries after garnering 10,363 votes.
Benard Kitur followed closely with 7,468 votes.
However, Kitur appealed the results of the nomination at the dispute committee where he raised a number of issues to prove the exercise was marred with malpractices.
The dispute resolution committee agreed with Kitur that there were insufficient ballot papers in some polling stations which denied a majority of residents a right to participate in the exercise. He (Kitur) was later awarded the ticket.
Following the nullification, Keter will defend his seat on an independent ticket.
“I’m warning them (UDA) of a humiliating defeat in the general election because I will defend my seat as an independent candidate,” Keter said.
