Aaron Cheruiyot Biography
Businessman Aaron Cheruiyot, 31, upstaged seasoned politicians to clinch the Jubilee Party (JP) ticket for the March 7 senatorial by-election.
Mr Cheruiyot, who conducted his campaign under the slogan “Young man for the Job” beat former Roads Minister Franklin Bett, former Kipkelion MP and one-time ODM Executive Director Magerer Lang’at and former National Housing Corporation chairman Sammy Chepkwony to win the ticket.
Also in the race were former Chemelil Sugar company manager Joel Kirui and Festus Moutor, who was the political advisor to Governor Paul Chepkwony.
Cheruiyot, a mass communication graduate from Moi University garnered 17,565 votes across the six constituencies to beat his closest challenger Mr Bett, who got 16,914 votes.
The much-anticipated announcement was made at 3am, yesterday at the county’s polling station, Kericho Teachers Training College (TTC), by the JP’s elections board chairman Aden Noor Ali, who also served as the returning officer for the Kericho primaries.
He was accompanied by the party’s Secretary General Veronica Maina and executive director Nixon Korir, among other top officials.
Mr Lang’at came third with 14,059 while Mr Chepkwony, who garnered 12,528, came fourth. Joel Kirui (2,152) and Moutor (1,312) came fifth and sixth respectively.
Immediately the announcement was made, Cheruiyot, who was pensively sitting between his rivals, Lang’at and Bett, rose to his feet in victory, as his supporters, mainly the youth, sang in jubilation.
He will now face off with Kanu’s candidate, former Bureti MP Paul Sang as well as New Vision Party’s candidate, former Kipkelion MP Bishop Tanui in the by-election.
At hand to congratulate Cheruiyot was Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu, who was also elected in a by-election.
“As the first Jubilee elected leader, I had to be in Kericho to ensure we win. We had resolved that we would respect and embrace the candidate who the voters would back in the nomination. I am confident that Cheruiyot will win the by-election by a landslide,” said Mr Waititu.
Speaking after receiving his nomination certificate, an elated Cheruiyot described it a great honour to be the likely heir to Charles Keter, who was appointed Energy and Petroleum Cabinet secretary.
“When the seat fell vacant, I contacted a few of my friends and I told them that I was going to give it a try. I am extremely happy and honoured that I am the candidate that the residents have picked to take over the baton from Mr Keter,” said Cheruiyot.
He attributed the win to the vigorous campaign launched by his team comprising young people who believed in his vision of turning the county’s fortunes around and taking it to greater heights.
“I would also like to thank the Jubilee leaders for restraining themselves from interfering with the campaign, and allowing the county to conduct a free and fair nomination process,” he added.
His rivals, Bett, Magerer and Chepkwony conceded defeat and pledged to support him throughout his race to the Senate.
“The party conducted free and fair nomination and today, the project that has succeeded is the people’s project. I pledge to support him and ensure Jubilee retains the seat,” said Magerer.
Bett half-jokingly said if he had one more campaign day, he would have defeated Cheruiyot. On his part, Mr Chepkwony told residents not to allow politics to divide them but they should focus on development after the by-election.
Aaron Cheruiyot
Things you did not know about Aaron Cheruiyot
- Born on 23rd February 1986 to Mr Joel Kipkoskei, a tea farmer and Mary Koskei a teacher, Mr Cheruiyot fully supported the teacher’s strike which paralyzed education in Kenya towards the end of last year, saying teachers deserved better pay after recalling all the tribulations that his mother has been through working too hard yet getting meager pay.
- He grew up in Kericho County. His mother is a teacher and an active member of Kipsigis Teaches Sacco.
- He went to Unity Primary School. He later joined Kericho High School for his secondary education.
- He vied for the Moi University Students Organization (MUSO) chairman’s seat in 2008 but lost out narrowly to Moses Orango.
- Aaron was suspended from Moi University for a year in 2009 for leading a protest against transport cartels in Kesses that did not want the business opened up to other interested businessmen. Eventually, he succeeded, forcing the university management to open up the Moi University-Eldoret Town route to minibuses, bringing down the cost of transport along the route down to Sh50 from Sh140.
- He holds a BA Language and Literary Studies (Literature option) from Moi University. He graduated in 2010.
- He joined Kenya Institute of Management in 2010 where he obtained a diploma in marketing.
- Arona, as he is fondly known among his friends, established of Africana Savana Tours Safaris, in May 2012 soon after quitting his sales job at Radio Africa Group. He’s also a director at Top Image Cleaning Services and Les 63 Restaurant in Nairobi.
- Aaron is a staunch Christian and is a youth leader and Sunday School teacher at Africa Gospel Church in Donholm, Nairobi. He’s an active member of Concert Family, a Christian group based in Moi University, Main Campus. He often led prayers at his campaign rallies
- He declared his intention to vie for the Kericho senatorial seat on November 24, 2015 and was urged on by his friends and family. He felled established politicians including former Ministers Franklin Bett and Magerer Langat.
- One interesting thing about Aaron is that he does not know and has never been interested to learn how to tie the knot in his neckties. He has always relied on his father and colleagues at his company to do it for him every morning.
Aaron Cheruiyot – Political History
Aaron Cheruiyot entered the murky political field in his fourth year at Moi University where he unsuccessfully contested for the students’ leader chair position in a controversial election.
He announced his interest in the Kericho Senatorial seat in December last year after Charles Keter was nominated into government as the Energy Cabinet Secretary, replacing Davis Chirchir who had been suspended and later dismissed over corruption allegations.
Before Saturday, January 16th, 2016, Cheruiyot was a businessman running a chain of enterprises including a hotel, a tours and travel company and a professional cleaning company.
The 29-year-old is now a Jubilee candidate running for the Kericho senatorial seat in the by-election slated for March 7th this year.
It was not an easy ride for the youthful politician who had to face seasoned politicians including former National Housing Corporation chair Sammy Chepkwony, former Roads Minister Franklin Bett and former ODM Executive Director Magerer Lagat.
Cheruiyot won the nomination with 17,565 votes while Chepkwony came second with 17,081 votes and Franklin Bett was third with 16,914 votes.
Lagat had 14,059 votes, Chemelil Sugar Board member Joel Kirui got 2,152 while former Kericho Governor’s political advisor Festus Kirui got 1,312 votes.
Aaron Cheruiyot – How we beat political heavyweights
The question that lingers in many people’s minds, however, is how did he manage to overcome the first hurdle?
“I spoke out to the people’s hearts and told them to change the way of doing things by nominating me. I told them that we cannot expect the same results if we approach politics the same way we have done over the years,” he said.
“I gave them my life story from my humble beginning and told them of my vision for the society.”
Cheruiyot will face strong opposition from KANU’s Paul Sang, who is also a seasoned politician and a one-time Health Minister.
Though cautious of the challenge ahead, Cheruiyot exuded confidence in winning the seat saying he offers fresh ideas that his opposition, who has been in politics for a long time, has not been able to.
“Kericho is a Jubilee zone and I don’t think Sang offers any credible threat. I am new and I am offering solutions to the people of Kericho compared to my competitors who have been there before,” he said.
How we beat political heavyweights – Campaign pledge
If elected Kericho Senator, Cheruiyot says he will focus on a host of issues including youth and women empowerment and sensitize the locals on government programmes on offer.
“During my campaign, I realised that many people do not know how to access youth and women funds. I will focus on helping them through the process so that they can benefit from such projects.”
“I will also set up an entrepreneurship hub in all the six sub counties of Kericho and teach the locals the basics of the business world. This will help them know how to enter business deals with private companies, parastatals and hospitals.”
Cheruiyot believes that he has the backing of Jubilee Party with Bett, Magerer and Chepkwony among others vowing to support his senatorial bid.
The post Aaron Cheruiyot Biography appeared first on Famous Kenyans.