“We Sacrificed for Him, Then He Shut Us Out” – Soy MP David Kiplagat Speaks on Fallout with Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii




Soy Member of Parliament David Kiplagat has finally broken his silence on the deteriorating relationship between him and Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, revealing a story of sacrifice, betrayal, and political isolation that he says has fractured the county’s leadership.

In an extensive statement made during a public function in Soy Constituency, Kiplagat detailed the events leading to the current standoff, placing much of the blame on the governor’s inner circle, which he claims has taken over the county’s political agenda and systematically sidelined leaders who were instrumental in Bii’s election victory.

“Governor Bii is my neighbour. In 2022, when he declared his bid for the governorship, I put my full weight behind him,” Kiplagat said. “I made a very difficult decision at the time — to tell my own supporters, many of whom supported Zedekiah Bundotich Buzeki, that if they were not with Bii, I would rather lose their votes than betray what we believed was the right course.”

According to Kiplagat, his home became a command center for Bii’s campaign, hosting countless meetings to craft a winning strategy and rally support from Soy Constituency — a stronghold that would later prove decisive in the election outcome.

“We were doing the work behind the scenes. Strategizing, planning, building grassroots support. I teamed up with then-Governor Jackson Mandago. While I was focused on strategy and ground mobilization, Mandago brought his influence and persuasive ability. Together, we formed a powerful team. There was no trickery, no stolen votes — we simply outworked our opponents.”

Kiplagat revealed that Governor Bii lost in five of the county’s six sub-counties during the gubernatorial contest but received an overwhelming win in Soy Constituency — a win so significant that it changed the tide of the election and handed him the governorship.

“Soy turned the game. The margin we gave him here reversed the overall results. That’s how deep we went to ensure he became governor. It was a collective sacrifice.”

But Kiplagat says everything changed immediately after Bii was sworn in at the Eldoret Sports Club. What was supposed to be the beginning of joint leadership and cooperation quickly turned into silence and exclusion.

“Before the swearing-in, we would speak frequently, we had a shared vision. There were even key plans we had developed specifically for Soy, knowing the sacrifices we had made. But right after the ceremony, everything changed. No phone calls, no meetings, no consultation. All the doors were shut.”

One of the first red flags, according to the Soy MP, was a symbolic act at the governor’s office.

“One of the first things his team did was to throw out the portraits of former Governor Jackson Mandago. That wasn’t just about pictures — it was a clear signal that they wanted to erase every trace of those who came before and those who stood with him.”

Kiplagat says a new circle of unelected individuals quickly emerged around the governor — people he describes as “rough operatives” who began profiling leaders, creating divisions, and planting seeds of political mistrust.

“They branded me as someone planning to run for governor in 2027 and started treating me as an enemy. That was never my intention at the time. But suddenly, we became the target of whispers and smear campaigns. We were being isolated because we were perceived as a threat — not because we did anything wrong.”

He accused the governor’s handlers of attempting to centralize control, character-assassinate elected leaders, and build a loyalist ring around the county administration.

“Their script was clear — destroy the reputation of any strong leader, especially those who had influence and a following. If they couldn’t control you, they sidelined you. They want the governor to be surrounded only by people they can manipulate.”

The MP lamented the breakdown of intergovernmental cooperation, noting that the political tension has made it difficult for elected leaders to come together and push for development priorities.

“As governor, you are expected to unite the political class — MPs, MCAs, professionals. That’s how you lobby for national government resources. But how can we work together when communication has been cut off? As elected leaders, we have been treated like outsiders in our own county.”

Kiplagat also questioned the attacks against Senator Jackson Mandago, arguing that Mandago had finished his two constitutionally allowed terms and posed no threat to anyone.

“I don’t understand why this group is fighting Mandago. He did his time, served his people, and moved on. But this effort to erase him from the county’s political fabric is not only disrespectful — it’s dangerous.”

The legislator emphasized that his issues are not personal, but rooted in principle, and reaffirmed that his commitment remains with the people of Soy and Uasin Gishu.

“Governor Bii is not a bad man. He’s a humble person, and I still respect him. But he must open his eyes. The people around him are dividing this county. They are undermining unity and killing genuine leadership.”

Kiplagat made it clear that the fallout will not silence him or derail his work.

“I didn’t enter politics to please individuals. I came to serve the people of Soy and to defend what’s right. If they think they can stop us through intimidation and exclusion, they are mistaken. We are here to stay — and we are ready for whatever lies ahead.”


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