Discontent in the ruling Jubilee coalition has now spread to Narok and Kajiado counties.
Leaders opposed to the government have been working closely with Kanu and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto in a new political arrangement giving Jubilee sleepless nights.
Senator Stephen ole Ntutu told The Standard on Sunday that the Maasai community has lost faith in Jubilee and may be forced to rethink their political stand. “The Jubilee Government has been discriminating against the people of Narok and particularly the Maasai community in terms of employment. It has also failed to implement campaign pledges,” he said.
Ntutu referred to last year’s sacking of Principal Secretaries John Konchella (East African Community) and Joseph Tiampati (ICT) during a Cabinet reshuffle by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kajiado West MP Moses ole Sakuda concurs with the Senator saying:”When our people are sacked, the positions are given to people from other communities. Why can’t they give us back the positions?”
Ntutu suspects Kochella and Tiampati could have been sacked because of their close relationship with elected leaders critical of the governor’s leadership. “The two had not been linked to any corruption scandals in their respective dockets,” he says.
The rebellion in Jubilee was laid bare following an altercation between Narok Governor Samuel ole Tunai and Emuria Dikir MP Johana Ng’eno at a function presided over by the the DP at Poroko Secondary School, in Trans-Mara, last Sunday.
Leaders opposed to the governor’s leadership are Mr Ng’eno, Mr Ntutu and MPs Patrick Ntutu (Narok West), Moitalel ole Kenta (Narok North North) and Korei Lemein (Narok South), Lydia Masikonde, daughter of the former Cabinet Minister William Ntimama and former Transport and Licensing Board chairman Hassan Kamwaro.
But Mr Tunai enjoys support of majority Members of the Narok County Assembly, and describes what’s happening in the county as the battle between progressive leadership and those keen to maintain the status to enhance their personal interests.
The governor accuses his rivals of thriving on propaganda. “Voters have no problem with Jubilee, which is working tirelessly to fulfill its manifesto while the other group is playing politics to dividing the people,” he says.
A section of leaders have accused President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto of ignoring the region in government appointments.
But the DP has maintained that Jubilee is still popular in the region. “Jubilee will come back come 2017. Everybody votes to be in government and being in Opposition is an accident,” he said recently at Ngiito Secondary in Narok West.
The neighbouring Kajiado remains relatively calm, save for MP Sakuda, who shares sentiments by Narok rebels. However, pundits say what happens in Narok County is likely to spread to Kajiado. “Politically, when Narok sneezes, the entire Maasai land catches cold. This has been the trend since Ntimama (William) was the spokesman here,” says lawyer Ledama ole Kina.
