Joseph ole Lenku: The die has been cast, my next stop is Kajiado governor’s seat

It is nearly two years since former Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku left the docket. So what has he been up to?

"I am enjoying the cool and fresh air, away from pressures of a high demanding job. My family gives me great company," he tells The Standard on Sunday team.

Besides spending quality time with his family, he also makes frequent trips to his home in Kajiado County. He has been connecting and bonding with the locals and is toying with the idea of running for the gubernatorial seat.

“Some people have argued that you have to be a crook to succeed in politics but I disagree that only disorderly people should be elected as Governors or Senators. But I will be a tough nut to crack,” says Lenku.

He dismisses those who think he does not have spine to make it in politics that is more often than not, murky and for the brave.

“It is true, I’m running for the position of Governor in Kajiado next year. The die has been cast and the only option is going forward,” says Lenku.

He says his goal is to unseat the current Governor, a task he reckons will not be easy.

“Go to Kitengela, Isinya, Kajiado, Kiserian and across the rural areas of the county and see for yourself how my announcement has thrown people into a spin,” says Lenku.

And what is his agenda for the Kajiado people?

First, he wants to tackle the frequent displacement of small scale traders from their places of work and harassment of business people in Kitengela.

He is equally concerned about the ethnic animosity that has recently hit the cosmopolitan county.

“I want to be the uniting force so that we can be an example to the rest of the country. I will be presenting my solid managerial experience to the people,” he says.

Another concern he hopes to address if he secures power is the poor education standards in Kajiado.

Other issues that require urgent intervention on his list include girl-child education and women empowerment. As we say goodbye, he looks at his watch one more time, as if to suggest that only time will tell if he will succeed in his new mission.