Tension In Baringo As Crowd Abandons UDA, Breaks Into Chant for Another Leader

Tiaty MP William Kamket and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) campaign team found themselves on the wrong side of public mood during a heated rally in Baringo on the final day of campaigns for the upcoming senatorial by-election. 

What was expected to be a routine show of support quickly flipped when the crowd openly defied the politicians on stage.

As soon as Kamket took the microphone to drum up support for UDA’s candidate, Kiprono Chemitei, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. 

A video making rounds online captures the moment the crowd erupted into loud chants for Chemitei’s main rival—Wakili Steve Kipruto of the RLP party.

“Wakili! Wakili!” the crowd roared, drowning out Kamket’s attempts to continue with his speech. Despite the overwhelming noise, the MP pushed on, trying to maintain composure as the chants intensified.

Recent opinion polls have positioned both Chemitei and Kipruto as the leading contenders, turning the by-election into a fierce two-horse race. 

For UDA, this election carries extra weight, coming shortly after President William Ruto reconciled politically with former senator Gideon Moi, who stepped aside in favor of the party’s candidate.

But even with that boost, the campaign trail hasn’t been smooth. Wakili Steve Kipruto, running under a relatively unfamiliar party in the region, has stirred unexpected momentum—momentum clearly visible in the crowd’s defiant reaction.

With voting slated for November 27, the high-stakes showdown now appears more unpredictable than ever, and UDA’s grip on Baringo is facing a real test.