Pukose Breaks Silence on Uganda Voter Registration Claims as Endebess 2027 Race Heats Up

Endebess MP Dr. Robert Pukose has strongly denied allegations linking him to the registration of Ugandan nationals as Kenyan voters, calling the reports malicious and untrue.

The legislator who is also the ruling Party ( UDA ) Trans Nzoia County Chapter Chairman said claims by the Standard group linking him to the registration of Ugandan nationals as voters during next year’s elections were untrue and labelled the media expose as both irresponsible and misleading.

The MP who was responding to whether the vehicle named in the expose  stated that the maroon vehicle featured in the media report does not belong to his aide whom he said  drives a silver car and suggested that the image that appeared in the KTN interview was nothing but an   AI-generation of lies meant to soil his name.

He noted that Endebess Constituency sits along the Kenya-Uganda border where residents naturally cross over for legitimate social and economic ties, such as trade and farming and therefore linking him to such moves was a miscalculation that no single sane person need to believe to be true.

 The legislator told Vision News that such unverified claims risks damaging public trust in the Country’s electoral system.

An elder Patrick Kimeli told News Vision that the history of the Trans-Nzoia–Uganda border and Mt. Elgon area involves several communities, but historical sources identify the Sabaot including the Kony/Elgon Maasai and related groups as one of the principal indigenous communities of the Mt. Elgon–western Trans-Nzoia area.

He said other communities with long-standing presence in the wider border region include Sabaot’s/Elgon Masai, Ogiek, Sebei , Gishu and other Kalenjin groups and asked Kenyans especially the Luhya to peacefully coexist with their brothers the Sabaot.

‘’ Sabaot communities used large parts of Mt. Elgon and western Trans-Nzoia for cultivation, grazing and pastoralism with historical accounts describing their territory as extending toward the Uganda border. We must all learn to peacefully coexist since we are all humans put here on earth by God the creator’’, he  said.

He said that during the 1920s–1930s, the colonial government classified large areas as Crown Land and subsequently allocated fertile Trans-Nzoia land to European settler farms. Many Sabaot were removed from their traditional agricultural and grazing areas.

‘’Historical records cited by Kenya's Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission describe forced removals, including a 1931 relocation of about 2000 Sabaot people with approximately 5,600 cattle to Sebei country in Uganda. Others were moved toward Maasai and Pokot areas or Mt. Elgon. We shouldn’t cause trouble to each other by pointing fingers ‘’

He said It would be inaccurate to say that every person or community now living in Trans-Nzoia was responsible for the displacement of the Sabaot and asked both the Bukusu and Sabaot Council of elders to guide the two communities towards peaceful coexistence as enshrined in the Mabanga Peace Accord.

‘’The historical process involved colonial land appropriation, settler agriculture, labour migration, later settlement schemes and land purchases, and subsequent government policies. Bukusu people, for example, also moved into Trans-Nzoia during the colonial period, initially including people who came to work on settler farms after the Elgon Masai refused to work’’, said Mzee Pius Arap Kauka

Western kenya Human Rights Watch executive Director Job Bwonya hit back at those chest thumbing and threatening those raising the registration of foreigners as voters , this time saying he will be moving to Court seeking orders for the removal of the Erustus Ethekon led IEBC for complacency.

‘’Criticizing and threatening the Standard in Parliament during the opening of the Fifth Session of the 13th Parliament was in itself wrong and I wish to ask our MPS to keep off or else we will be asking the courts to act. Elections cannot be held under such circumstances where Senior public officials threaten everybody and using foul talk’’, he said.

‘’ If it is not true that no single KIEMS kits were unlawfully moved or compromised at the Suam Boarder then why is CS Murkomen threatening Kenyans as if he is indispensable? ‘’, asked Mr. Bwonya.

He also told off the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for dismissing claims of vote smuggling or illegal vehicle interceptions at the Suam border.

Trans Nzoia County Lands CEM Pius Gumo who recently met face to face with CS Murkomen telling him that no Ugandans will be allowed to cross over during the voting day has also challenged the interior minister never to try threatening him and other leaders opposed to the UDA administration.

Gumo said the government must explain the issue of the registration of Ugandans to come and vote in Kenya .’’ What is the government’s commitment to the public, particularly as residents of Trans Nzoia pursue to know why aliens were being registered as voters. We are looking for answers and not threats, he said.  

“I heard CS Murkomen  say that it was the rights of Sabaots living in Uganda to be registered as voters, really, even if you think you are above the law do you think you enjoy that monopoly of threatening everybody and lecturing us as if we are your children? asked the CECM.

Murkomen  had warned Gumo during the meeting  that he was prepared to confront anyone seeking to obstruct anyone including him for standing on the way for anyone crossing to the Country through the Suam border to vote,  saying he will deal with anyone posing threats to those coming to vote.

He said he was  raising  the concerns of Endebess  residents who, he said, had all the rights to know from CS Murkomen on why KIEMS kits had allegedly been sneaked to the neighbouring Country to register non-Kenyans.

He questioned why the government could not explain the issuance of Kenyan IDS and voting Cards to Ugandans  and its implications to the people of Kenya.

“There is nothing wrong with the government explaining and giving answers to our people. Why did the honorable CS rise to use bad language demeaning the governor who wasn’t present during the function ? Was there any reason for him treating us with such disrespect?  

His remarks came as area MP Dr. Pukose   defended himself against being linked to the registration of Ugandans as voters.

Dr. Pukose assured residents of the Cosmopolitan Constituency that peace will continue to prevail before and after the 10th August elections, saying those trying to blackmail him should not target him but register as many voters if they wish to have a duel with him at the ballot.

He exuded confidence that he will trounce his competitors during election day.

Endebess parliamentary seat has already attracted Trans Nzoia Lands CECM Pius Gumo popularly known as Ndovu, businessman and former Teacher  Alwin Sasia, Dr. Simon Kapchanga, Chamii Simiyu.

The duel according to observers will be between the Incumbent MP Dr. Robert Pukose and the Lands CECM Pius Gumo since the Sabaot Community has since agreed to rally behind Dr. Pukose.