A Kenyan
female politician showed her son that she was not only older than him in age,
she is also more experienced and more popular politically. Kipng’etich Kones,
the
son of a late Cabinet Minister Kipkalya Kones, who ran in the Kenyan
parliamentary election lost to his mother, Beatrice Kones.
Beatrice
Kone beat her son and seven other contestants when she polled 22,796 votes
against her son’s 2,410 votes. Kipng’etich who contested on a Chama Cha
Mashinani (CCM) ticket got a lot of support from outgoing Bomet Governor Isaac
Ruto, while his mother contested on a Jubilee Party ticket.
Many
residents of Bomet East, the constituency of the family, said the family battle
was not blessed. Others said the rivalry was a depiction of democracy and
showed maturity as far as politics is concerned.
According to
Kenyan news website, Daily Nation, the area overwhelmingly voted for Jubilee
and it might be a reason why Kones lost to his mum. It was one of the most
watched duels in the elections since it pitted members of a nuclear family and
the outcome was eagerly awaited.
One of the
residents of the area was quoted by a local daily saying the result should be a
lesson to all young people. “You can never rise against your parent, especially
your mother and expect to succeed.
When my
mother speaks I go down on my knees,” said Mr Hezron Tangus, a Bomet East
resident. A political analyst and lecturer at Laikipia University said it was
culturally suicidal to compete against.
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