Dr. Julius Kones: The Mathematician With a Plan for Bomet’s Future

In the quiet hills of Bomet County—where tea farms stretch for miles and agriculture shapes daily life—a new kind of leadership is emerging. Leading the charge is Dr. Julius Kones, a mathematician turned public servant, who is now offering something Bomet has long needed: a clear, practical plan for economic transformation.

Dr. Kones earned his PhD in Statistics from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology and is widely admired for his intellectual clarity, disciplined approach, and focus on measurable results. His multifaceted career has taken him through public service as a policy analyst, into academic lecture halls, onto the legislative floor of the National Assembly, and through influential policy roles in the corporate sector. Now, he brings this diverse experience to the campaign trail, quickly emerging as a leading contender for Bomet’s governorship.

What sets him apart isn’t noise or popularity. It’s structure, strategy, and a deep understanding of how development really works. His plan for Bomet isn’t about short-term wins—it’s a bold, long-term roadmap to unlock the county’s full economic potential.

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At the heart of his proposal is an Economic Blueprint aimed at creating jobs, increasing local incomes, and building new industries. Today, Bomet’s economy stands at an estimated Kshs 200 billion. About a quarter of this—roughly Kshs 50 billion—comes from agriculture. Tea brings in Kshs 15 billion, and dairy adds Kshs 8 billion. These are impressive figures, but there’s a problem: nearly all the produce leaves the county raw. There’s little to no processing, packaging, or branding done locally, which means farmers earn less and jobs are lost to other regions.

Dr. Kones wants to change that. He believes Bomet should be more than a supplier of raw products—it should be a centre for processing, packaging, and trade. He often points to Murang’a County, which earns more than Kshs 18 billion from tea annually, thanks to investments in value addition. His goal is for Bomet to do the same—or even better.

To make this happen, he is proposing the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial parks across the county. His key project is the Kipsonoi SEZ, a 200–300-acre industrial area where farm produce will be processed and packaged for sale. This would shorten the supply chain, give farmers more control, and create hundreds of local jobs.

*Photo| Dr. Julius Kones, Member of the Board of the Commodities Fund & a Former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation*

In Kyogong, Dr. Kones envisions the creation of a vibrant commercial town anchored by a modern bus park to empower small-scale traders. He plans to revive the stalled Bomet IAAF stadium, construct an additional county stadium to nurture sports and youth talent, and upgrade key livestock markets—including Chebunyo, Kapkwen, and Mulot—into fully equipped trading centres. Furthermore, he proposes establishing a leather and hides processing factory to boost agribusiness and add value to livestock products. In Konoin, he aims to develop a dedicated industrial zone focused on avocado processing and exports.

He also has bold infrastructure ideas. He plans to push for the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kipsonoi, making it easier to move goods in and out of the county. He also wants to expand Itembe Airport, in partnership with Tenwek Hospital, to support medical tourism and emergency services.

If implemented well, Dr. Kones believes these projects could double Bomet’s GDP by 2032. But more than that, they would lift thousands of families—farmers, traders, and youth—into a better, more secure future.

Dr. Kones has built an impressive portfolio of public service and community leadership throughout his career. He previously served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation. His academic background includes lecturing in Statistics at the University of Nairobi, and earlier in his career, he worked as an Economist and Statistician at the Ministry of Planning. He currently sits on the Board of the Commodities Fund, continuing his dedication to national development through economic oversight and policy advisory.

During his tenure as Member of Parliament for Konoin Constituency, Dr. Kones stood out as an articulate debater and a tireless advocate for his constituents. He served as Vice Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and was an active member of several key parliamentary bodies, including the Parliamentary Caucus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Committee on Delegated Legislation, and the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. He was also Vice Chairman of the Bunge Football Club, underlining his support for youth engagement through sports.

Dr. Kones played a crucial role in the enactment of the Tea Amendment Act of 2011, which significantly improved earnings for tea farmers by ensuring fairer pricing mechanisms. Beyond legislation, he mobilized his community to form several microfinance institutions and cooperative movements. His leadership saw the establishment of milk cooling facilities like the Simoti plant, operated by Kokiche Dairy Farmers Society, and the launch of numerous local development initiatives including the Konoin Youth Micro Enterprise Fund, Iria Maia Hydropower Generating Society, Bosto Eco Tourism Camp, and the Konoin-Terek Athletics Camp.

He is also the founder and patron of Greenland Youth Sacco—an initiative that has empowered youth through savings mobilization, credit access, and sound financial practices. Under his guidance, the Sacco has expanded its operations across Bomet, Kericho, and Nakuru counties. It has created jobs and now owns supermarkets and a fleet of boda bodas, becoming a model of youth-driven economic success.

Dr. Kones is further recognized for his transparent approach to Constituency Development Fund (CDF) management. He was among the first MPs in Kenya to introduce a public voting system for electing CDF committee members, setting a national example for inclusive and accountable development planning.

As the 2027 elections approach, his message is gaining support in Konoin, Sotik, Bomet East, and Bomet Central. People are beginning to see him not just as a candidate, but as a planner, a builder, and a doer.

In a county full of potential but held back by poor planning, it may just take a mathematician to solve the equation—and lead Bomet into a better, stronger future.