Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery endorses Ole Lenku for Kajiado governor's seat

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku (centre) with the current CS Joseph Nkaissery (right) during a traditional reconciliation ceremony at lenku's home in Kajiado yesterday. [Photo: PETERSON GITHAIGA/Standard]

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery and his predecessor, Joseph Ole Lenku, buried the hatchet in a traditional ceremony held over the weekend.

In a move likely to change the politics of Kajiado County, the two leaders, who have not been seeing eye to eye, vowed to work together to popularise the Government's agenda within Maasailand and the country at large.

In a ceremony conducted by 100 Maasai elders, both leaders ended the rivalry that has been simmering since Nkaissery replaced Ole Lenku at the Interior ministry three years ago.

Nkaissery relinquished his political seat as the Kajiado Central Member of Parliament to replace Lenku at the Interior ministry.

It took the intervention of the Nkaissery's age set, Oseuri, who are the senior-most elders to bring the two leaders together after years.

To confirm that he will back him in the race for thee gubernatorial this year, Nkaissery led the elders in handing over a ceremonial stick to Ole Lenku as a symbol of leadership.

Addressing a huge gathering that had streamed to the homestead to witness the ceremony, Nkaissery said he was happy to have their friendship back after years of name calling between him and Ole Lenku.

"I am just like your father, and if you have decided to take this step of seeking forgiveness and blessings from me, then I will do as you wish," said Nkaissery.

However, Nkaissery warned Lenku not to let down the people of Kajiado.

"I want you to be very serious with the job you are seeking as it's not a simple one," he said.

Speaking after the ceremony, Lenku thanked the CS for his gesture and promised to work with all leaders to improve the lives of the people of Kajiado.

"This is a day I have been waiting for for a long time, I'm assuring my supporters that the train has now started moving, and nothing will stop us from getting the gubernatorial seat," he said.

He said his aim was to unite communities living in the multi-ethnic county, noting that there has been mistrust between various groups primarily informed by historical injustices.

"The neglected communities feel they have been getting a raw deal from the current administration. I want to be governor to unite these communities and to ensure they are treated fairly," he said.

Lenku used the occasion to outline his political agenda.

"My prime focus is to bolster education. Other priority areas include boosting water supply, empowerment of women and youth through programmes aimed at uplifting their lives. I am fully aware of the need for gender equality which is the cornerstone of development. When women and men are equal in a society, economies flourish," he said.

"Improving sanitation is also top on my agenda and I hope to achieve this by partnering with the national government. Many areas in Kajiado are inaccessible because of poor roads, I want to remedy this," he said.