How Bomet East Votes: A Look at Elections and Development

Bomet​‍​‌‍​‍‌ East Constituency is an agricultural and political hub that can hardly be overlooked in the lush terrain of the South Rift area of Kenya. It was created in 2012 as a ward of Bomet County, and it is characterized by a local economy driven largely by the production of dairy products, tea and maize. With a population of 144,275 as per the 2019 census, spread over an area of only 304.7 km²

Bomet East is mostly inhabited by the Kipsigis people who are a sub-group of the Kalenjin. The region’s location on an important motorway linking Narok to Bomet, Kisii, and Kericho has facilitated a rise in commercial activities, particularly at places like the Longisa shopping center. The fertile highland and lowland zones are used for intensive farming that sustains agricultural production.

Political Analysis

2013 General Election

Bett Benard Kipkirui of United Republican Party (URP) won decisively with 32,688 votes against Sirmah Rolex Kipsang of KANU’s 2,420 votes in the first election following the setting the constituency. According to the statistics from IEBC, the number of eligible voters at that time was 41,435, and there was a very good attendance of 91% turnout.

2017 General Election

Kones Beatrice Pauline Cherono of the Jubilee Party was victorious, collecting 22,796 out of 52,862 votes, while Rotich Amos Kipngeno (independent candidate) had only 4,160 votes. The voter turnout increased to a record figure of 83.1%, which indicates more people participated in the democratic process that day.

2022 General Election

Richard Kipkemoi Yegon (UDA) triumphed with 35,431 votes, while Nicholas Salat (KANU) secured 13,425 votes. Registered voters increased to 63,640, with a turnout of 74.7%. This means that more Kenyans had the opportunity to choose their leaders during that period.

Current County Assembly Representation (2022–2027 Term)

Role and Impact on the economy

As one of the major dairy producers in the county, Bomet East Constituency helps feed the local milk markets at New KCC and Brookside through small farmers’ refrigeration groups. Tea farming, which occurs in the highland zones, is largely done on a subsistence level, where the harvest feeds the KTDA factories, a fact that gives people extra income. 

The area provides the local populace as well as the South Rift and Nyanza regions with maize, beans, and potato crops for sale. Being adjacent to the main artery also brings a rise in property development and business in the region

Community Importance

Health services are mainly handled by Longisa County Referral Hospital, which is considered a hub of medical facilities at the Regional level. On the educational front, there are institutions like Longisa High School and those on the tertiary level which assist students and youths to become equipped with the necessary know-how. 

Strong agricultural farmers' groups and informal savings associations (chamas) continue to play significant roles in the overall development of the people and society, along with the introduction of financial instruments which are very useful to the commoner. Being a highly democratic region, as reflected by voter turnout, is yet another factor that is unique to the constituency.

Bomet East Constituency continues to be a vibrant one with its agricultural activities, political competition, and, at the same time, social cohesion. As the big day of 2027 comes closer, it has the power to influence the whole Bomet County and the entire South Rift region through its population’s decisions on whom to support in the ​‍​‌‍​‍‌elections.

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