Raila visit sets stage for scramble of Maasai votes

CORD Leader Raila Odinga hugging Narok veteran politician and former heritage Minsiter William Ole Ntimama during the burial of Zipporah Lemein who was a wife to first Narok Senator Philip Lemin at Lenana village.PHOTO:ROBERT KIPLAGAT.

Scramble for the Maasai vote is shaping up with CORD leader Raila Odinga promising to retain his grip on the region.

Raila has planned a triumphant “home coming” to Narok County this month as he seeks to assert his influence in a region that has since fallen out of favour with the Jubilee coalition.

Local leaders elected on the Jubilee ticket are unhappy with the ruling coalition over alleged marginalisation, a scenario that could work in CORD’s favour in 2017 General Election.

“Narok is my home. I have been given a warm reception and an animal slaughtered in my honour. I had promised to come even if it means being here for a few minutes,” Raila told mourners in Narok North during the burial of Ms Zipporah Lemein, mother to ODM vice-chair Christine Lemein and wife of Narok Senator Philip Lemein.

In the 2013 election, Raila led in the county by garnering 118,623 votes (50 per cent of the total votes cast) against Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta who got 109,413 (46 per cent).

Since 2014, there has been discontent among Jubilee legislators in Narok County who accuse the government of discriminating the community in state appointments and development projects.

Narok North MP Moitalel Kenta, the only TNA MP in the county, says they are disillusioned. He accuses the government of failing to address “pertinent issues affecting the community.”

One of the issues the leaders says has not been addressed is the Mau Forest conservation.

Speaking on Tuesday, Raila said despite it costing him the Rift Valley votes, Mau Forest was worth fighting to conserve. “I fought for the conservation of Mau Forest but I was fought politically and I accepted it. Right now, we are feeling the impact of failing to conserve the forest. We have seen lives and property being lost in Narok as a result of deadly flash floods,” said the CORD leader.

Raila also called on the Jubilee government to implement the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report touching on the Maasai land.

“Maasai in Laikipia and Samburu have been squeezed and their land taken away. Imagine an individual owning more than 250,000 acres of land while the original owners have nothing to survive on.

Since he became President, Uhuru is yet to tour Narok but his Deputy William Ruto has been frequenting the county.

According to ODM Narok County chairman Kaza Roho ole Torome, Narok has been in ODM long enough and continues to enjoy support.

“We are retaining Narok because it is Raila Odinga’s turf. Come 2017, Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy will witness what they witnessed in the last general election here,” said the Orange party official.

Governor Samuel Tunai, his Deputy Everlyn Aruasa, legislators Soipan Kudate (Woman Rep) and Narok East MP Lemanken Aramat have been traversing the county in a bid to popularise Jubilee.

“The Jubilee administration is doing a lot in Narok. As we speak, Narok-Sekenani, Kisiriri-Nakuru, Olmekenyu-Mekenyu roads are undergoing under construction,” said Tunai during Madaraka Day celebrations.

But as the coalitions dig in, most aspirants eyeing different seats are yet to announce whether they will contest on CORD or Jubilee.

Hopefuls including former ICT PS Joseph Musuni Tiampati (gubernatorial), Lydia Ntimama (Women Rep) and advocate Martin Kamwaro who is seeking the Narok North parliamentary seat.