The senatorial seat in Narok County is expected to be a tight race, having attracted 11 candidates, most of whom are very popular in the area.
Among the top candidates is the incumbent senator Ledama Ole Kina who is vying on an ODM ticket, Governor Samuel Tunai (UDA), Kilgoris MP Gideon Konchela (Jubilee), Meitamei Olol Dapash (UPF) and Cheruiyot Kipkemoi (UGM party).
Others vying for the seat are Chepkemoi Bett (DC), Salaton Tompo (Independent), Maloi Godfrey (NOPEU), Kiranto Ole Nabala (TSP), Zakayo Rotiken (Independent) and Jimmy Luka (Independent).
Ole Kina who was overwhelmingly voted in office by the Maasai community in the 2017 general election, will have to fight hard to retain his seat.
The vocal senator holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science and English Communication from the University of Massachusetts in Boston. He comes from a smaller Maasai clan called Ildamat clan.
On his part, Konchela has served as the Kilgoris constituency MP for the last 20 years and now wants a higher seat in the senate.
The retired military personnel hails from the Uasin Gishu clan of the Maasai Community, which is the second largest clan in the county and enjoys massive support from the region.
On the other hand, Tunai, who hails from the Siria clan of the Maasai community enjoys massive support from the Kipsigis community, whose number of registered voters is approximately 110, 000.
Another popular candidate is Olol Dapash, an environmentalist and scholar, who has been championing for the protection of the Maasai Mau forest and Maasai Mara game reserve.
He is from the larger Purko clan and is expected to get major support from the fraternity.
The total number of registered voters in the 30 wards of the county is 398,784.
