Some 291,017 registered voters in Kericho county will next Monday head to various polling stations to elect their new senator.
Senator Charles Keter was appointed Energy Cabinet Secretary late last year in a reshuffle
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission county returning officer Moses Sunkuli said preparations for the exercise had been finalised in the county’s six constituencies.
Key issues in the county include poor roads, health and a poor market for agricultural products, especially tea.
Jubilee has been under attack over what voters see as unfulfilled promises as well as alleged skewed employment in favour of one constituency, Belgut, which was once represented by Keter.
Keter is the immediate former Kericho county Senator.
Six candidates have been cleared by the IEBC for the by-election.
The candidates include former Health minister Paul Sang of Kanu, Aaron Cheruiyot of Jubilee, Bishop Daniel Tanui of National Vision Party, David Mutai of the New Democratic Party, Paul Sigey of the United Democratic Movement and Wycliffe Ngeno of the Maendeleo Democratic Party.
Deputy President William Ruto has toured the county on several occasions to drum up support for Jubilee candidate Cheruiyot.
Jubilee is facing a fierce battle from Kanu, with Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto, Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and a host of rebel URP MPs campaigning for Sang.
Ruto recently apologised for not fulfilling promises made by Jubilee in Kericho and immediately announced that a number of roads in the county will be tarmacked.
But Kanu and Rutto have been campaigning on a platform of change, arguing that Jubilee should lose as a lesson for its empty promises and for frustrating devolution.
Kanu received a boost when Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi backed its candidate.
Sunkuli said yesterday the county has 623 polling stations, in all the six constituencies – Ainamoi, Belgut, Bureti, Sigowet-Soin, Kipkelion East and Kipkeilon West.
Bureti has the largest number of voters at 63,226, followed by Ainamoi (59,561), Belgut (54,044), Kipkelion East (41,840), Sigowet-Soin (37,442) and Kipkelion West 34,904.
There are 142 polling stations in Bureti, Ainamoi has 117, Belgut 103, Kipkelion East 90, Sigowet-Soin 88 and Kipkelion West 83.
The tallying centre has been set up at Kericho Tea High School.
Sunkuli said the electoral commission has recruited enough personnel to man all polling stations and there should be no cause for alarm.