Ainamoi is the political and commercial heartbeat of Kericho County. From URP to Jubilee and now UDA dominance, discover how tea farming, rapid urban growth and party politics continue to shape one of the South Rift's most influential constituencies ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Hon Benjamin Langat MP, Ainamo PHOTO | COURTESY /: Parliament of Kenya
Ainamoi Constituency is the nerve centre of urban, economic and political development in Kericho County. It surrounds Kericho Town and the adjacent high-yielding agricultural highlands and therefore plays an important role in the decision-making process in the region.

With an area of roughly 238.2 km², Ainamoi is more urbanised than its neighbours and is estimated to have more than 220,000 citizens.

Political Landscape: 2013–2022

2013 General Election 

The new United Republican Party (URP) won the first election under the 2010 Constitution with an absolute majority.

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Winner: Benjamin Kipkirui Langat (URP) – 38,369 votes (73.83% of total votes cast).

Runner-up: Stanley Kipkurui Mutai (UDM) – 9,050 votes (17.41%). 

2017 General Election

A big change in the ruling party primaries was the ousting of the sitting leader and the decision to stand as an independent candidate, dividing the core supporters.

Winner: Sylvanus Maritim (Jubilee Party) – 32,987 votes (56.7%).

Runner-up: Benjamin Kipkirui Langat (Independent) – 20,396 votes (35.1%). 

2022 General Election

Former MP Benjamin Langat made a big comeback in politics, running on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket and taking advantage of the high popularity of the yellow wave in the South Rift.

Winner: Benjamin Langat (UDA) – 59,254 votes (94.44% of the total tally).

Runner-up: Wycliffe Ngenoh (Independent) – 3,490 votes (5.56%). [1]

Members of County Assembly (MCAs) by Ward

There are 6 administrative wards in Ainamoi. The area has been a complete UDA Party Stronghold for all elective civic positions, sweeping all positions during the 2022 election cycle. 

WARDMCAsPARTY
Kapsaos Paul KiptooUDA
Kapkugerwet Martin CheruiyotUDA
Kipchebor Eric BettUDA
Kapsoit  Paul Chirchir UDA
Kipchimchim Philip MutaiUDA
Ainamoi Cheruiyot Bett UDA

This pattern shows that Ainamoi voters are highly responsive to national party strength and unity. When a party is popular and well-organised at the national level, local support becomes nearly total, as seen in the UDA landslide of 2022. Internal divisions, however, quickly weaken that hold, allowing challengers to gain ground, as happened in 2017.

Economy and Infrastructure

The constituency functions as a stronghold for whichever party currently dominates the South Rift, making local outcomes a clear reflection of broader political waves rather than purely local issues.

Economic opportunities, tea prices, urban infrastructure and water supply are expected to be among the defining issues heading into the 2027 General Election.

The local economy here is mainly dependent on retail trade, transport (both boda-boda and matatu) and hospitality, as Ainamoi is the Urban Real Estate and Commercial Hub. 

The heavy urbanisation puts a lot of pressure on water supply, and the county has embarked on a water supply expansion project through the Kericho Water and Sanitation Company (KEWASCO).

The main economic challenge in the constituency is the high proportion of smallholder farmers who sell tea leaves to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) factories, which large tea multinational farms surround. 

A tea export tax of 0.8% was imposed on exports, which took effect on May 1, 2026. Ainamoi’s smallholders joined urban market traders in strongly protesting the tax. Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Chairman Enos Njeru has attributed this to a drop in the tea market. 

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