Editor’s Note: In this opinion piece, Kimutai Kirui looks at how politics and governments are rarely defeated by opponents alone. More often, Kirui argues that they are weakened by the weight of public perception, unmet expectations, and accumulated frustrations among voters and staff.
The institutional effectiveness of the Uasin Gishu County Government significantly deteriorated over time. To many, the Uasin Gishu County Government collapsed.
In assessment, what remains is a formal administrative structure with diminished capacity, where the appearance of governance risks overshadowing the core functions of accountability, service delivery, and public value creation.
Uasin Gishu entered such a political phase. Every unresolved grievance, every perception of disconnect, and every complaint from traders, workers, and ordinary residents created political space for a challenger.
H.E. Jonathan Kimeli Bii’s administration created a business environment where proximity to power outweighed competition, innovation, and merit, creating a hostile climate for many small and medium enterprises.
In Eldoret, every morning begins like a survival test—antelopes navigating a marketplace shadowed by allegations of extortion, intimidation, and uncertainty. For many traders, the CBD has become less a hub of opportunity and more a daily test of endurance.
Today one is in business, tomorrow one is out. Merchandise in county yard
The OCS at Eldoret Police Station is accused by traders of being an appendage of this axis of evil against the business community. OCS, to the business community and many critics, failed to protect traders and allegedly shields individuals linked to harassment of the business community.
Most of those accused operate with political protection from networks close to the Governor, Hon. Oscar Sudi and elite business persons. Ethanol, second-generation products, and narcotics are sold at the CBD.
A prominent drug dealer and a suspect from Eldoret were recently arrested while travelling from Mombasa with alleged narcotics, reigniting public debate on the spread of illicit substances.
Uasin Gishu questions why Oscar Sudi, a key political figure in Eldoret and supporter of the President’s agenda, has remained silent on the fight against ethanol abuse, second-generation alcohol, and narcotics. They argue that leadership requires consistency when confronting issues affecting society.
Moreover, Hon Oscar Kipchumba Sudi is at the centre of controversy over allegations of fostering monopolistic influence in the clothing industry.
The business community has also raised concerns about competition in key sectors, alleging that Wajose enjoys dominant influence in clothing, while Ma Daughter, a Langas Ward aspirant, benefits from political favour in the fish trade.
The broader concern is whether economic space is narrowing for ordinary traders while influence networks expand.
County government: instead of empowering entrepreneurs and youth, the system has rewarded access over ability.
The defining question remains: “IS UASIN GISHU’S ECONOMY OPEN TO ALL, OR SHAPED BY CLOSENESS TO POWER?”
Governor Bii is also portrayed “as overly influenced by Hon. Oscar Kipchumba Sudi and, by extension, CS Murkomen—an argument that continues to shape political debate in the county!”
Bittok’s political dilemma: From the boardroom to the ballot
We know Bitok and his handlers may not welcome this message, but truth does not require permission.
It is offered without malice, innuendo, or political theatre.
We told Governor Bii the reality as many saw it. The question is whether he listened or chose the comfort of praise from those whose loyalty may be sustained by access and personal interest.
Elections, however, are not won simply because a challenger is strong.
They are won when voters begin to believe that change offers a better path than continuity.
That is the political space H.E. PS Julius Bitok appears to be positioning himself to occupy.
Bitok’s greatest challenge is not his qualifications, experience, or record of public service.
The vulnerability is not competence; it is perception. It is not a question of ability, but of demeanour, accessibility, and connection.
In politics, an impressive record and elite credentials are not enough. Voters judge not only what a leader has achieved, but also whether they feel understood, heard, and represented.
The challenge is bridging the gap between competence and connection. Because in politics, expertise earns respect—but relatability earns trust.
To some residents, he remains a distant figure—technocratic, reserved, and removed from the everyday realities of ordinary citizens.
His political assignment is therefore clear: convert competence into connection and reputation into a grassroots movement.
Bitok is a political paradox: refined, accomplished, and highly credentialed—yet still undefined in the emotional landscape of many voters.
His challenge is not competence but connection. Politics is not a boardroom evaluation where qualifications alone prevail; it is a contest of perception, accessibility, and trust.
The danger is that refinement may be mistaken for distance, and sophistication for detachment. A leader can command respect in elite circles yet struggle to inspire ownership among ordinary citizens.
Bitok’s task is clear: translate professional admiration into public connection and turn credentials into a people’s movement.
Power creates echo chambers where applause replaces honesty. A leader surrounded only by praise risks losing touch with reality.
His team must recognise that criticism is not sabotage; it is political intelligence. The greatest threat is not opposition, but an inner circle that filters uncomfortable truths.
Bitok’s vulnerability is not a lack of qualifications—it is the risk of being defined by them.
Voters do not elect CVs; they elect leaders they can relate to, question, and trust.
Bittok must bridge the gap between professionalism and personal connection.
He must be seen engaging with traders, farmers, workers, and ordinary citizens—not only through official platforms but also through genuine human interaction.
The danger is that sophistication may be mistaken for distance. Bittok’s education, diplomatic experience, and public service record are clear strengths, but they must be matched with a deeper connection to ordinary citizens.
People do not only want a leader who understands systems and policies; they want one who understands their daily struggles.
Beyond perception, Bitok’s advantage lies in a career built on education, diplomacy, discipline, and public service rather than political confrontation. His experience as Kenya’s Ambassador to Pakistan and later as Principal Secretary in Immigration, Education, and Wildlife gives him a strong narrative of professionalism, planning, and institutional leadership.
Bitok’s political journey has also been shaped by resistance
Sustained criticism from rivals, including Hon. Oscar Kipchumba Sudi and, remotely, CS Murkomen, may have produced an unintended effect: increasing Bittok’s visibility and strengthening his appeal among those who view him as politically targeted.
Speculation over attempts to weaken his influence appears to have amplified his profile rather than diminished it.
In politics, pressure can sometimes become a source of momentum.
For Bitok, opportunity exists, but victory will depend on transforming elite recognition into a genuine people’s movement—one that speaks to farmers, traders, youth, professionals, and residents across the county.
The next election may ultimately be a choice between continuity and a different model of leadership.
The author is Kimutai Kirui, a Kenyan political analyst and human rights activist known for his work in Uasin Gishu County, where he has championed justice in cases ranging from police brutality to land disputes affecting widows.
Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not represent the editorial position of news9.africa.
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