Kipkelion East: How the Highlands Shape Political Choice

Kipkelion East Constituency is the same as Londiani Sub-County in Kericho County. In 2019, Kenya conducted a Population and Housing Census, which recorded 137,580 inhabitants in the area. 

With an estimated coverage of 747 square kilometers, the region is located in a high-altitude zone with rich volcanic soils and a combination of highland and transitional areas producing diverse farms. 

Kipkelion East is strategically placed on the border of Nakuru and Kisumu cities, which makes it a very significant area for communication, transport and economic linkages along the Rift Valley.

Political Analysis

In the last few years, politics in Kipkelion East has shifted to the point that it is now difficult to predict whether a party or an individual candidate will win an electoral contest. This is especially true about shifting voter loyalty, as well as the increased importance given to partisan branding over individual support.

In the 2013 General Election, Joseph Kirui Limo of the United Republican Party (URP) won with 23,071 votes, defeating Vincent Kipkirui Korir of the United Democratic Movement (UDM), who received 9,687 votes.

In the 2017 General Election, Joseph Kirui Limo, running on a Jubilee Party ticket, retained the seat with 27,402 votes against Joseph Kimutai Cherorot (Independent), who garnered 16,445 votes.

In the 2022 General Election, Joseph Kimutai Cherorot of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) won with 36,066 votes, defeating the incumbent Joseph Kirui Limo (Independent), who received 11,268 votes.

The dramatic increase in the winning vote share of Joseph Kimutai Cherorot, who went from receiving an average of under 17,000 votes in 2013 to over 36,000 votes in 2022, points, among other explanations, towards more effective campaigning, higher turnout, and fiercer partisan conflict.

 Overall, the Kipkelion East results are in line with the nationwide political reorganiZation trends and a local mirror of Kenya's party evolution from dominance of URP to Jubilee at the time of the election of the new government (after 2022) and a rise of UDA.

Current County Assembly Representation (2022–2027 Term)

Economic Role and Relevance

Agriculture and forestry are Kipkelion East's core sectors that support the locality's economy. Local production of commercial maize and beans is the dominant staple, with markets located in Londiani, Chepseon, and Kedowa. 

Coffee cultivation is mainly done in lower belts with only transitional ridges involved. In contrast, areas such as Londiani and Tendeno/Sorget have potato, cabbage, tomato, and pea farms as part of the crops that are well grown here. Dairy farms with high-yielding cattle, along with sheep and goat raising, are well entrenched. 

The constituency is identified as a key area for livestock in the Kericho County Integrated Development Plan. Wood and forestry products such as wood for fuel, furniture, and even construction are a large industry here since Londiani and Kedowa markets provide a hub for sawmill activities and wood treatment. 

The main towns have a variety of businesses that support them, from transport and retail to wholesale through the Nakuru-Kisumu Highway. At the moment, Londiani Agricultural School's infrastructure work is underway so that it can start producing new generations of farmers who can adopt new farming methods with modern technologies. Hence, the region's agricultural potential is expected to increase further.

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