The Jubilee coalition has stepped in to resolve the leadership standoff in Narok County between a section of leaders and Governor Samuel Tunai.
The crisis in Narok, that is firmly under the political grip of the Jubilee coalition, attracted the attention of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, who sources told The Standard on Sunday, were not happy with the on goings in the county.
Last Saturday, the President hosted more than 100 leaders from Narok County after a week of altercations between the leadership in the county.
The delegation to State House, Nairobi, was one that is opposed to Governor Tunai, and was plotting to paralyse services at the county headquarters should the President fail to address them.
Those in the delegation included Senator Stephen Ntutu, MPs Moitalel ole Kenta (Narok North), Patrick Ntutu (Narok West), Korei Lemein (Narok South) and Johana Ngeno (Emurwa Dikirr), Former Heritage Minister William Ntimama, former Kenya’s ambassador to China Julius Sunkuli, his brother Andrew Sunkuli, former Transport and Licensing Board Chair Hassan Kamwaro and 13 former county council chairmen.
“The President had no choice but to meet the leaders after realising all of them were in support of the Jubilee Government and that they were unanimous in a petition to the Senate would not address the challenges facing the county,” said an MP who was part of the delegation.
It is believed the elected leaders were not keen on sponsoring a motion at the County Assembly to remove the governor because the governor has ‘infiltrated’ the Senate and Members of the County Assembly.
Those opposed to Tunai accuse him of poor leadership, nepotism and failing to be accountable and transparent in his management.
But Tunai, who enjoys the support of majority MCAs, his deputy Evalyn Aruasa and a section of the business community, accuses the leaders of wanting to plunder county resources. MPs Ken Kiloku (Narok East), Gideon Konchella (Kilgoris) and County MP Soipan Kudate, Assembly Speaker Nick Kamwaro and Majority leader Stephen Kudate are behind the governor.
Tunai says his administration has sealed leakages in revenue collection from the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve, something the local leadership has not been happy about. “When I came in as the governor, the county was losing millions of shillings because the system of revenue collection was manual and most of the money paid was ending up in individuals’ pockets,” he said.
He accuses the leaders of who have turned down our invitations to development consultative meetings. “They have resulted to politicise everything the county does instead of supporting the positive initiative to move Narok forward,” said Tunai.
Political mechanisation
He was confident that the political mechanisation by his critics would not distract him. He declared that he is legally in office and will not accept some leaders whom he described as self seekers to dictate to him how to run the county.
“The people on the ground have seen our work but some leaders who have set eyes on the seat of the governor are out there inciting the public. Let them tell people how they have utilised their CDF allocations as I bring more development for the residents of Narok,” said Tunai.
Tunai dismissed their grievances, saying the office of the auditor general has not raised any queries about his revenue collection and expenditure.
“As leaders we must desist from careless talk that can instigate tribal animosities. There is currently no leadership vacuum and these leaders should wait for their turn. I will not be deterred by empty politicking,” he said.
It is said that President Kenyatta asked the leaders to give him 21 days to look into their allegations.
Mr Kamwaro, who was at the State House meeting said they accepted the president’s request because the presidency is a symbol of unity.
“He has promised to form a committee to look into the petition we gave him. He appealed for a cease fire as the committee carries out its work,” said Kamwaro. Kamwaro said the president pledged to honour the findings of the committee, adding that the leaders called on him not to accept to be arm twisted by the governor. “Our refusal to take our case to the Senate or the courts is because the governor is known to have infiltrated these institutions. We shall not accept to seek redress in institutions that have already been compromised by Tunai,” said Kamwaro.
Political leaders agree that the president was compelled to intervene because all the elected leaders come from the ruling coalition. Before seeking intervention from State House, the leaders had given Tunai a 14-day ultimatum to respond to a raft of issues they raised or they forcefully eject him from office before the president intervened.
But the crisis in Narok County has taken a different dimension. Speaking defence of the governor, Assembly Majority Leader Stephen Kudate and Kimintet MCA Kuyo Kijabe said the leaders were overstepping their mandate and attempting to wreck the party and the popularity of the deputy president.
“These are leaders who are out to incite the public against the governor because they want to distract him. We are aware that they have political interests and fear they will not have anything to tell the people of Narok when the next election comes around,” said Kudate.
Kijabe said the party will not disintegrate but called on every leader to execute their mandate. “The MPs have the CDF but the governor has not been working. This is a mischievous scheme to derail the country’s development agenda,” said Kijabe who said the County Assembly is best placed to interrogate the county executive.
URP National Deputy Secretary Leah Ntimama, who attended last week’s anti-Tunai rally said the party is intact and accused Tunai of attempting to derail the party’s manifesto by refusing to be held accountable.
“It must remain clear that this is not about URP but rather a governor who does not want to be asked to be financially responsible. The party will not accept an individual to plunder the county’s resources because he is a member,” said Ms Ntimama. Mr Kenta said Ruto should stay above the fray if he wants to come out unscathed and warned that should he side with the governor, he will be allowing fiscal irresponsibility. “Ruto should not attempt to muzzle the voice of the people because it is them that have spoken through their leaders.
None of us is in the Opposition and we want to state clearly that the DP does not need the governor. In fact it is Tunai who needs Ruto most,” said Kenta. He further warned that since the governor has failed to consult, they have opted to take their case to the court of the people of Narok.
Narok Central Business District Association chair David Sankok describes Tunai as a liability to the deputy president and URP.
He said the county is firmly in URP but regretted that elements like Tunai were soiling the party’s good reputation. “I advice the DP to call for a leadership forum because we know he means well for Narok. Indeed, in the history of Kenya even our own kinsman, the late former Vice President George Saitoti, did not do a quarter of what Ruto has done for the people of Narok,” said Mr Sankok.
Accountable leadership
Narok West MP Patrick Ntutu and his Emurwa Dikkir counterpart Johana Ngeno said their support for the deputy president and the party is unwavering and dismissed the fear that the county differences might rock the party’s boat.
“This is a clear demonstration that there is political tolerance and respect for divergent opinion in our party. We shall be pushing for accountable leadership in our county and even at the party level,” said Mr Ntutu.
However, the mood was different on Tuesday during the popular Kass FM Leene Emet morning programme when callers from the county unanimously heaped praises on the governor and appealed to the leaders to give the governor time to deliver on his campaign pledges.
Caller after caller enumerated the several things the governor had done despite having grappled with a court case in his first year in office. “Most roads that were impassable are now motor-able during rainy seasons.
Health workers have been employed, the ambulances were recently purchased and plans are underway to upgrade six health centres into level four hospitals. We are so far contented with what the governor is doing,” said Mr Willy Cheres, a caller from Mulot.
