Governor Jonathan Kimeli Bii Chelilim is the second Governor of Uasin Gishu serving his first term. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from Luther Rice University and a master’s degree in Project planning and management from Kisii University. He is also a PhD candidate for project planning and management at Kisii University in Eldoret campus.
Between 2018 and 2022, Governor Chelilim served as an advisor to the county Governor of West Pokot, H.E. Prof. Lonyangapuo on education matters. Being a county with one of the lowest literacy levels in the country, he put up measures such as increment of bursary allocation per year to needy students and increased in enrolment of students to university and introduction of adult education program.
Prior to joining politics in 2007, Jonathan Bii had served at Moi University for over 10 years, in various capacities. He began as a junior library staff but moved up the ranked swiftly to join in leadership engagements of student’s affairs. This is attributed to his extra ordinary interactive skills which were promptly picked by the university leadership. He was then transferred to the Dean of Students office where together with a multidisciplinary team, founded a generational impactful program dubbed MOI UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC OUTREACH. Within this program, Governor Chelilim traversed the country to encourage and motivate students to pursue studies under the innovated parallel academic programmes in Moi University and other Kenyan public Universities.
Following the enormous success of the outreach program and his desire to mentor and create positive impact in the society, he established a new program called RE-ROUTE. This program helps graduates and students to seek work and academic opportunities abroad. The program has been a success as hundreds of Kenyan students and graduates have emigrated to Australia, Canada, Qatar and Europe countries while many more have initiated their emigration processes within the program.
As an ardent believer in community empowerment, Governor Chelilim spearheaded the establishment of Kasari cooperative society in Kabenes earlier on in his life to support farmers. This cooperative society grew and gave birth to MoiSoy miller to process farmer’s grains.
As a strong advocate for peaceful coexistence, he has greatly championed peace initiatives in the County. This attribute is crucial for UasinGishu County because it is greatly cosmopolitan. In 2008, following the post-election violence that was witnessed in most parts of the country, he was one of the notable leaders who preached peace and spearheaded peace meetings that brought hostilities to a halt.
As a charismatic, well-networked educationist and a highly motivated leader who has the people of Uasin Gishu at heart, Governor Chelilim is dedicated to promptly and appropriately implement his ten-point manifesto to uplift the standards of living of the residents and transform each and every sector in the county.
H.E Hon Jonathan Kimeli Bii Chelilim, Governor Uasin Gishu County.