Lead image for ‘I am not a flower girl’: Yvonne Kones aims for Bomet senatorial seat.
In a county where no woman has held the senatorial seat since devolution began, Yvonne Chepkirui Kones has decided to be the first to try. Her decision to run for the Bomet seat has stirred political buzz, not just because she is the only woman in the race so far but also because she is the wife of a sitting Member of Parliament from a neighbouring county.
Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei is defending his seat in the 2027 race, up against Governor Hillary Barchok and Yvonne, in what is shaping up as a three-horse contest. “I am a mother, a wife, a businesswoman, a trained economist and a champion for a lot of things,” she says, introducing herself during an interview with the Nation.
She believes she has all the qualities needed to steer Bomet's affairs in the Senate, and to rally the national government, private sector players and donors to bring development to the county.
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“I am in the race to win, not to show my name. I am not a flower girl. I am a formidable candidate for the position of Senate. With the support of the people on the ground, I am confident of winning,” Yvonne says.
For the last five months, she has had to fend off bullying. “It is unfortunate that women in our community, even in this day and age, still have to endure so much bullying over their dress code, their messaging, the company they keep, the business they're involved in, and whether they're equal to the task at hand,” she says.
Born into politics
She is not entirely new to this world. Yvonne grew up in a family deeply immersed in politics. Her late father, Kipkalya Kones, was a Cabinet Minister in the administrations of presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki and the longest-serving Bomet MP.