Former South Rift Powerful Politician And DP Ruto's Ally Set to Make Huge Comeback

Former Ainamoi Member of Parliament Benjamin Lang'at is among the country's powerful politicians who are set to make huge comebacks in the upcoming 9th August general elections. Before losing his seat in the 2017 general polls, Mr Lang'at had served as an MP for two terms where he rose from a mere high school teacher to one of the influential and powerful political figures in the South Rift region. During this time, he was a close ally to Deputy President William Ruto who is believed to be the brain of Benjamin's Lang'at transition to politics.

Mr Lang'at was first elected to parliament through a by-election in 2008 following the death of his brother who had won the seat in 2007 and was shot dead at the height of the post-election violence. Ruto who was leading the Rift Valley then ODM brigade identified the Benjamin Lang'at and fielded him to defend his brother hence giving him a triumphant entry to the political arena.

However, Lang'at's shining star was almost put off when he contested for the Kericho gubernatorial seat in 2017and lost to incumbent governor Paul Chepkwony during the Jubilee's party primaries. He made a u-turn and went to defend his parliamentary seat on an independent party ticket but lost terribly to Hon Sylvanus Maritim. He was drawn into a phase of political cold for five years after William Ruto presented him to be appointed as Kenya's ambassador to Namibia by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The recently concluded UDA party preliminaries saw Benjamin Lang'at dethrone his competitor Mr Maritim to scoop a ticket to reclaim his lost glory. Unlike in many areas, all substantial contenders including the incumbent MP have dropped their bid to support Benja's comeback. The UDA party's supremacy in the region is enough of a factor for the former lawmaker to have a swift and smooth journey to the next parliament.

As of now, Benjamin Lang'at is the only candidate who has been cleared by the IEBC to contest for the Ainamoi Parliamentary seat, a clear confirmation that the once-powerful politician will be back in the South Rift politics like he never left.

Content created and supplied by: Croozynews (via Opera News )