Bomet County MCA Cheplanget has stunned his constituents by walking away from politics to chase his dream of becoming a pilot. The independent candidate who won Chebunyo Ward in a surprise victory three years ago says he is done with the seat and will not run again.
Instead, he is pouring all his energy into finishing flight school and has already signed a job contract that starts around May 2027. The move has left many voters in Bomet scratching their heads because Cheplanget rode a humble bicycle campaign all the way to victory yet vanished from public life the moment the results came in.
He defeated the well-known UDA candidate Hon Joseah Laboso by keeping things simple and genuine. While other politicians rolled through the ward in flashy cars and held big rallies, Cheplanget pedalled from village to village on his bicycle.
He listened more than he talked, shook hands with ordinary farmers and school children and never promised the moon. People felt he was one of them. That quiet humility won him sympathy votes and carried him to the MCA seat even though he had no big party machinery behind him.
Everyone expected him to celebrate the win with a loud thanksgiving party or at least tour the ward to say ‘Thank you’. Instead, he packed his bags and went straight back to school.
For the past three years Cheplanget has been almost invisible in Chebunyo. He skips funerals, school fees, fundraisers and even community meetings that most MCAs attend without fail. Locals say they rarely see him at public events, and when they do, he is usually rushing somewhere with books under his arm.
He has openly told friends and a few close supporters that he is no longer interested in politics. His focus is entirely on completing his pilot training, and he is determined to finish strong. The contract waiting for him in 2027 is a big step up, and he wants to be ready the day it begins.
The decision feels rare in Kenyan politics, where most leaders cling to their seats for as long as they can. Cheplanget seems different. He entered the race because he wanted to serve, but once he won, he realised his true passion lay elsewhere.
Some residents feel disappointed because they voted for him expecting him to fight for roads, water and better schools in the ward. Others respect the choice and say it takes courage to walk away from power when your heart is somewhere else. A local teacher who knows him well put it simply. He never pretended to love the spotlight. He just wanted to help and now he wants to fly.
Cheplanget’s story has sparked lively talk in Bomet and beyond. Young people admire him for following his dream instead of staying in a job that no longer fits. Older voters wonder if his bicycle campaign was just a clever tactic or if he really meant to serve only one term.
The humble way he campaigned still stands out in people’s memories. He did not hire crowds or print expensive posters. He showed up on that bicycle day after day, rain or shine, and talked to voters like equals.
That image helped him beat a stronger party candidate, and it is the same image many hold onto now as they watch him step aside. His family and close circle say he is happy and focused.
He spends long hours studying navigation, weather patterns and flight safety, and he cannot wait to get behind the controls of a real plane. The job contract waiting for him feels like the perfect next chapter after three quiet years of hard work.
