Little known hotelier aimed for the stars, got more than he fancied

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU and  FELIX OLICK

Kenya: Interior Cabinet Secretary nominee Joseph ole Lenku got more than he bargained for literally.

The son of a paramount Maasai chief from a remote village called Lenkism in Loitoktok, near the border of Kenya and Tanzania, had applied to be a Principal Secretary in the new Jubilee Government, only to be nominated to the Cabinet.

He was among the over 2,000 Kenyans who had applied to be appointed a Principal Secretary (PS).

For starters, President Uhuru Kenyatta surprised many a fortnight ago when he nominated the little known Utalii Hotel General Manager to head the powerful Interior Affairs and Coordination of National Government docket.

Kenyans went viral on social media with a journalist posting on his Facebook: “Who is this ole Lenku that President Uhuru has settled on?”

Indeed, that the country had heard little about the nominee is no secret with sources saying President Uhuru had not even met him until a few days before nominating him.

But as to why the Head of State settled on a career hotelier to manage the country’s security affairs is still left to speculation, yet on appearing before the vetting committee, Lenku told Kenyans what he is made of.

Intense lobbying

Sources indicate that Uhuru was impressed by Lenku’s CV after he was introduced to him by Chief Whip and Loitoktok MP Katoo ole Metito, his childhood friend.

After interviewing him, the President picked him amid intense lobbying from leaders from the Maa community drawn from Kajiado and Narok counties who wanted one of their own.

Other personalities were fronted to the President, but Uhuru developed a soft spot for the 43-year-old Lenku and wanted a new face in the ministry. The nominee, who is awaiting Parliament’s approval, is a son to Lenku ole Mpaa from Loitoktok. According to Joel ole Leshau, a senior registrar at Kenyatta University, Lenku is a no-nonsense man, firm in what he believes in, but humble and honest.

Leshau says he schooled with Lenku and Metito, describing the nominee as an intelligent man who consistently led in class until he was nicknamed professor.

 “Up to now he is still referred to as professor,” Leshau says of the nominee, adding he is a staunch Christian and does not drink alcohol.

“He is one of the most educated persons from our village and I don’t know any other big shot he is close to other than our MP (Metito),” Leshau adds.

His nomination, which came as a surprise to many, is already causing jitters, with a section of legislators expressing misgivings about his ability to address spiralling insecurity.

But during his vetting, Lenku used the opportunity to assure the country that in spite of his background, he was qualified and would deliver on his mandate as the ‘work of the Cabinet Secretary will be policy to guide the technical team’.

Yesterday, a section of MPs from the Maasai community scoffed at their colleagues opposed to Lenku’s nomination as Cabinet Secretary.

The leaders took issue with a section of lawmakers who have dismissed Lenku as inexperienced, saying it was a scheme to ‘poison the environment’ before the name is tabled in Parliament.

“For them to impute ineptitude, inexperience and incompetence on Mr Lenku, whose public record is exemplary, reflects the political bigotry that continues to divide this country,” said Kajiado Senator Peter Mositet.

They also hit out at Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba for allegedly referring to Lenku as ‘a principal of a small beverage college’, and termed his remarks misplaced arrogance, lack of decorum and blatant disregard for common courtesy.

Samburu Senator Sammy Leshore maintained that Lenku was one of the most enlightened Kenyans and had served the country with diligence and dedication.

“Do they expect him to be well built and putting on a commando combat complete with a gun to consider him qualified as Cabinet Secretary?” posed Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta.

The parliamentary Committee on Appointments grilled Lenku on Monday and his name will be tabled in Parliament this week.