Split over plan to make Matiang’i Gusii spokesperson

Plan to crown Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i as a Gusii elder and spokesman has drawn mixed reactions.

In a meeting held at Kisii Agricultural Training Centre on Sunday, Abagusii Cultural and Development Council members said they would crown Matiang’i to chart the community’s political path.

Kisii Governor James Ongwae, his Nyamira counterpart Amos Nyaribo, Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri, his Nyamira counterpart Eric Mogeni, Kisii Woman MP Janet Ong’era and her Nyamira counterpart Jerusha Momanyi were present during the event.

Some absent

However, other elected leaders from Kisii and Nyamira counties were absent, with the council chairman James Matundura saying this was just the beginning, and that they would be incorporated during future meetings to ensure the community is united.

“Elders from Kisii and Nyamira counties have initiated plans to crown Dr Matiang’i a community elder and spokesman and we kindly request him to accept since we have found him to be the most qualified person to hold that position,” said Mr Matundura.

But Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati said he had already been crowned as the community spokesman during a ceremony held at his Motonto rural home two years ago, and that Matiang’i should only take up the role of community elder since the other position was already occupied.

And North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko termed the move by the elders as ill-advised, noting that they should have first consulted widely before coming out publicly to state that they had such plans -to avoid divisions and backlash from leaders who were not involved.

Mr Nyamoko said Arati was the Gusii spokesman and those who want to carry out another coronation should tell the community if the Dagoretti North MP had failed in his duties to warrant his removal.

“The elders did not invite the 14 elected Members of the National Assembly and the 65 elected Members of the County Assembly from Kisii and Nyamira counties when they were announcing the intention to crown Dr Matiang’i as a community spokesman. This is wrong,” said Nyamoko.

South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro dismissed plans to make Matiang’i spokesman, saying the best crowning comes from someone being elected by the people to represent them in a political office and not an endorsement by few individuals.

Mr Osoro, who represents the constituency where the CS hails from, said any other decision made without the involvement of the majority of community members would not be binding.

Bomachoge Borabu MP Zadock Ogutu faulted the elders for failing to involve elected leaders.

No comment

Nyaribari Chache MP Richard Tongi said he could not comment on the matter since he had not been fully briefed on the new developments.

Prof Ongeri said that the community had recognised the role Matiang’i had played since joining the government in 2013.

“His good performance caught the eye of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who elevated him to coordinate government projects in 2018,” Ongeri stated.

Ongwae said local leaders had agreed that Matiang’i would be the community pointman, and would be mandated to negotiate on their behalf at the national level.

Mr Nyaribo praised the council of elders for initiating the plans, saying Matiang’i was the senior-most Gusii leader in government whose work has been recognised by all Kenyans and rightly deserves to be the community spokesman.