University student is West Pokot’s youngest MCA

Mr Evanson Lomaduny, a third-year-student at Moi University is the youngest MCA in West Pokot County representing Endugh Ward. PHOTO | OSCAR KAKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Lomaduny said he was not bothered by the challenge posed by traditions.
  • He got 2,206 votes against his closet rival Mr Siywat Victor of Chama Cha Mashinani, who had 1,624.

A third-year student at Moi University surprised many when he won the Endugh Ward seat becoming the youngest ever elected MCA in West Pokot County.
Mr Evanson Lomaduny aged 22 broke Pokot community traditions as he not only becomes the youngest ever elected leader but he is also not married.

Before such a leader was unheard as veteran politicians with a wife or wives were always picked in Kapenguria Constituency.

“This is breaking from the old Pokot traditions that young men should not lead. It is now about issues and who can deliver. With this trend, economic and social change is coming from a remote ward in Pokot to the whole of Kenya,” Mr Lomaduny, who is pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Education at Moi University.

Mr Lomaduny said he was not bothered by the challenge posed by traditions when he declared his interest in the seat, which he contested on Kanu ticket.

“When I was starting, so many things were against me. First was the perception that a young man, who is not married and worse still is yet to clear college cannot lead,” he said.

SON

He said he was able to beat this by giving examples to residents of great leaders, who in their youth, were thrust into leadership positions and delivered.

“I told them to trust me and that as their son, I have gone through the same challenges they are facing and was best placed to tackle them.

“I held rallies across the ward to woo voters. The age factor is a non-issue. The people of my ward believed in my manifesto and wanted change,” he said.

Speaking to the Nation Lomaduny said he decided to join politics after seeing residents suffer because of poor leadership.

“Poor education standards pushed me to run for the office. There is no one with a degree from the ward. The entire ward has less than 20 government employees including chiefs and teachers,” he said.

VETERAN POLITICIANS

He defeated six other candidates despite having to shuttle between the university’s main campus in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County and the ward to conduct campaigns.

Most of his opponents were veteran politicians.

He got 2,206 votes against his closet rival Mr Siywat Victor of Chama Cha Mashinani, who had 1,624.

The Ward is located on the West Pokot and Turkana border and has 7,086 registered voters.

Mr Lomaduny is a former student of Kapenguria High School. He cleared in 2013.

His vision is to turn around the social economic life of Endugh Ward residents saying they had been neglected for long.

He said his main target would be to improve roads, make clean water accessible and improve education standards.