Ethnic, party cards seen to determine Nakuru’s first CEO

By STEVE MKAWALE

The decades-old scramble for power and resources in the larger Nakuru region — between the two dominant ethnic groups — could rise to new levels in the wake of new system of governance.

The struggle seems to have gained, and continues to gain, momentum soon after the promulgation of the new Constitution in two years ago. The introduction of county governments brought fresh impetus not only in the struggle for economic ownership but also political control of the cosmopolitan county between the dominant Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities.

The tussle over the ownership and control of the county has seen the race for the governorship left mainly in the hands of the two communities. So far, the other communities have been quiet about their political interests in the county. Perhaps, this is after realising their numerical weaknesses and seem to have accepted to play third-fiddle to the dominant communities.

However, Nakuru Town MP Lee Kinyanjui, who is contesting the post of county governor, says the Nakuru belongs to all communities — who reside, work or are settled there.

 “I have worked to reconcile all communities in Nakuru and leaders from all communities must agree to elevate nationalism higher than the counties that are ethnic monolithic and agree to live together as Kenyans,” says the MP.

The ethnic scramble for Nakuru County, however, seems inevitable due to the apparent refusal by political leaders to accept that it cannot be a county for one community.

An attempt by elders from the two leading communities to broker a deal on power sharing at the county fell flat in their faces after one of the communities denounced the arrangement.

Reverend Lawrence Bomett, also eyeing the county governorship seat, says Nakuru needs multi-ethnic leaders who will fight for all residents.

“This crop of leaders must accept to see the governorship of the county going to a person from one community, the senator coming from even the smallest community, and people of all communities sharing the county assembly and government equitably, without sacrificing merit and integrity,” said the clergyman.

Veteran politician Koigi Wamwere echoes Rev Bomett’s remarks, saying all seats should be shared among all resident communities regardless of their numerical strengths.

“Their (residents and leaders) only aim should be to fight poverty, corruption, negative ethnicity and unemployment to make Nakuru the most ethnically united and economically developed county,” Koigi says.

The TNA factor

It is no doubt the ethnic card will play a major role in deciding who will be the inaugural governor for Nakuru County.

Political pundits, also see the race for the governorship being purely a TNA affair.

“TNA has a big following in Nakuru and going by the outcome of previous elections, whoever wins the ticket stands a chance of being the first governor of Nakuru,” says TNA activist Githinji Mwaura.

Two of the interested candidates are in TNA, which enjoys massive support from members of the Kikuyu community.

Pundits say the brawl over Nakuru emerged out of a grand unsung pact between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin elite in a bid to control the national politics.

To contain power, the first president of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, made Daniel arap Moi his vice-president in January 1967 following the resignation of Joseph Murumbi. This was followed by mass movement into the region by members of the Kikuyu community over the years.

Surprisingly, many pieces of land in the region were dished out to Kenyatta’s lieutenants, who later sold them to their kin and followers from central Kenya at low prices. When Moi assumed power, he, too, used land to bargain power and to contain the Kalenjin identity. Those who were loyal to him were rewarded with chunks of land in Rift Valley.

However, Nakuru County is expected to be one of the most coveted counties in terms of development as the devolved system of government takes shape. The county has huge potentials in agriculture, tourism, industry and business.

Nakuru is home to Lake Nakuru National Park, the Hyrax Pre-Historic site, Lake Naivasha and Lake Elementaita among other tourist sites.

Nakuru is widely viewed as a stronghold for The National Alliance party headed by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.

Among those seeking the TNA ticket is Kinyanjui, who will battle it out with former Administration Police Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua.

Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement party will be banking on Bomett, who recently decamped from the United Republican Party of William Ruto.

However, Bomett will have to work extra harder to overcome the strong TNA/URP wave that is sweeping through the county.

Kinyanjui is pegging his hopes on his performance as Nakuru Town MP and his role as a peacemaker in a region that has witnessed electoral-related violence since 1992.

Mbugua says his record as an administrator and a senior Government official speaks for itself, saying he has experience required in managing serious county affairs.

Bomett says his campaign will be based on uniting all communities that work, reside and are settled in Nakuru. He says all have equal entitlement to its economic ownership and political control.