The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) officials have publicly endorsed Hillary Sigei for Bomet senate seat.
The current Knut officials have turned their backs on former teachers union boss, Mr Wilson Sossion.
Led by Knut national first vice chairman, Stanley Mutai, the officials say Sossion is not fit for the position owing to the cantankerous nature of his leadership.
The simmering row has raised the stakes in the race, two weeks to the April 14th United Democratic Alliance (UDA) primaries that are expected to be hotly contested.
Knut has publicly declared its support for Nairobi based lawyer Hillary Sigei who alongside Mr. Sossion and Mr. Christopher Langat, are seeking UDA’s ticket.
Bomet branch executive secretary, Malel Langat, his Sotik counterpart, Mathias Langat, treasury Peter Rono and assistant secretary Paul Sang are backing Mr. Sigei saying he is the best bet for the Bomet senate seat.
Mr. Sigei is a close early of Deputy President William Ruto and a partner in Nairobi-based Singoei, Murkomen and Sigei law firm.
“We are offering our support to Mr Sigei, who is the Knut lawyer, because we have confidence in his leadership. We’re appealing to voters in Bomet county to back him in the party primaries and in the August 9 elections,” Mr Stanley Mutai said.
“We know one of our former officials is in the race, but he is not fit for the position owing to the cantankerous nature of his leadership which crippled the union, and his continued interference in Knut leadership and internal affairs,” he added.
Mr. Sigei appealed to voters support, saying he’s the best candidate.
“I’ll play my oversight role to ensure the national and county government deliver on the devolution agenda,” he said.
He cited health, infrastructure, water provision and trade and investment as his focus.
The position taken by Knut leaders is expected to generate a lot of interest among teachers in the region.
Mr Sossion has been banking on the support of teachers in a region where he was once a Knut branch executive secretary.
Following his controversial ouster at the helm of the union, Mr Sossion has launched a scathing campaign against Mr Oyuu.