The youthful United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidate Vincent Chemitei has been declared the winner of the Baringo County senatorial by-elections.
The seat was left vacant following the demise of William Cheptumo in February 2025, after a long illness.
The 31-year-old candidate, a little-known ‘pool chalk man’ from Mochongoi Ward in Baringo South, managed to floor five other contestants to garner 55,246 out of the 72,580 votes cast in the six constituencies in the county.
“In this senatorial election, there were six contestants and out of this, I declare Vincent Chemitei as the winner with 55,246 votes, and I now issue him with a certificate,” said the County Returning Officer John Mwangi while declaring the results.
The UDA party candidate was battling with five other contestants: Steve David Kipruto of the Republican Liberal Party (RLP), who got 13,037 votes, Benjamin Chebon of The New Democrat (2,863), Shadrack Kibet Kaplawat of Alliance for Real Change (527), Samuel Letasio of Kenya Moja Movement (488) and Daniel Kirui of Umoja na Maendeleo Party, who got 295 votes.
His biggest competitor was tipped to be Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, who quit the race on the last day of the submission of nomination papers, following a deal with President William Ruto.
The exit of Senator Moi, with a storeyed political history and a household surname, paved the way for Mr Chemitei to battle it out and jump ahead of the line to become a clear frontrunner.
Until recently, Chemitei was better known as a “chalk man” at local pool tables in Nakuru, hustling and running small businesses to make ends meet.
His victory is being described as nothing short of a miracle, a rare story of an underdog rewriting the political script.
In his acceptance speech, he thanked the locals in the region for believing in him and electing him as their senator, and promised to unite with all the leaders and work together in serving the electorate.
“I am very elated to be voted in as the senator, and I want to thank all the people of Baringo County for supporting me in this course. I promise that I will unite with all the leaders from the region to deliver the agendas I promised during my campaigns,” said Mr Chemitei.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party Senate nominee in Baringo County, Vincent Kiprono Chemitei, 31, being awarded a nomination certificate by the party's election board Commissioner Mary Mutinda at the Kabarnet Rehabilitation center on September 21, 2025.
Photo credit: Florah Koech | Nation
Despite coming from the minority indigenous community, the little-known Chemitei broke the barriers to floor the aspirants from the dominant Tugen community.
The minority communities in the region, including the Pokot, Turkana, Ilchamus, Endorois, Nubian and Agikuyu, have over the years complained about being sidelined by the dominant Tugen in leadership. They argue that this keeps them out of crucial dockets and nominations.
The concern has existed since the advent of devolution in 2013. All the top county elective seats—governor, senator, woman representative and Member of Parliament—have always gone to the Tugen.
For instance, in the 2022 General Election, the gubernatorial seat was taken by Benjamin Cheboi, woman representative by Florence Jematia, and Senate went to the late William Cheptumo, all from the majority Tugen.
Chemitei, who is also a close ally of Mogotio MP Reuben Kiborek, took the lead in all the six constituencies and also managed to get huge backing from the Pokot community in Tiaty.
For instance, out of the 11,327 total votes cast in Tiaty Constituency, he managed to get more than 10,347 votes, with his close competitor Kipruto getting 782, Chebon (43), Kaplawat (114), and Kurui 10 votes.
In Mogotio Constituency, out of 13,509 votes cast, he garnered 10,562 votes, while Chebon got 1,530, Kipruto 1,247, Kaplawat 38, Kurui 31, and Letasio 17 votes.
United Democratic Alliance party's candidate Vincent Chemitei arrives to cast the ballot at Kamailel Primary School in Baringo South Constituency, Baringo County on November 27, 2025.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
Concerns were raised over the low voter turnout in the entire county, which stood at 26 percent, with only 72,990 out of the registered 281,053 voters participating in the by-elections.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CEO Anne Nderitu raised concerns that less than 30 percent of the locals participated in the by-elections.
“There was a very low turnout in the region, with only 26 percent of the voters exercising their democratic right,” said Dr Nderitu.
