John Serut's legacy and links with SLDF linger as he passes on

 

Former Mt Elgon MP John Serut who died yesterday aged 67. [Mbugua Kibera, Standard]

The death of former MP John Serut yesterday aged 67 marked the end of an era in Mt Elgon politics that had been dominated by him and current legislator Fred Kapondi for the past two decades.

Serut's political battles with Kapondi, even a narrow escape from a bullet fired at him by the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF), will go a long way in defining the man who succumbed to cancer in a Nairobi hospital.

In October last year, the former MP's family appealed for financial help from Kenyans after his sickness took a toll on the family's finances.

Serut represented Mt Elgon Constituency for two terms;2002 to 2007 and then lost to the current Kapondi between 2008 and 2013 when he vied on a PNU ticket.

He would then recapture the seat in the 2013 General Election on an independent ticket and lost again to Kapondi in the last polls.

"His name evokes memories of the SLDF as he was largely associated with the faction which was formed to protect rights of land in the region," says Martin Wanyonyi, a constituent of Mt Elgon.

However, after facing the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) over the matter, the MP was cleared of any wrongdoings.

"His perceived association with the militia made him be liked and hated in equal measure."

The former MP who formerly worked with SLDF had a brush with death when a member of the militia that vigorously advocated for land rights turned against him during the 2007 polls.

Then, the SLDF was in favour of candidates seeking election in Bungoma and particularly in its county council on an ODM ticket.

Serut had defected from Ford-Kenya to join Former President Mwai Kibaki's PNU that was a hard-sale in the region dominated by the Orange party.

"He was addressing a rally when a militia shot at him narrowly missing," said Wanyonyi.

The MP's differences with the militia escalated to a point that he testified before the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) against them.

Since its emergence in 2006, the SLDF committed serious human rights abuses and violations in Mt Elgon bordering on war crimes.

When an ODM candidate won the seat in 2007, some feared it as a victory to the militia as its presumed leader was elected to parliament.

Militia victory or not Serut remained in the cold for five years for going against the wishes of his constituents, a decision that many say started in 2005.

In that year, when ODM opposed the draft Constitution proposal, majority of his constituents wanted Serut to join them but he defied.

He even defied the revered Sabaot community elders, Oloibons, who spoke for the community insisting the draft was in order.

This cost him the seat according to Mzee Francis Chemwor, chair of the Elgon Maasai Someek council of elders.

"Defiance to elders comes with consequences. He defied us and in return got a backlash from the community which cut in on his political career," says Chemwor.

Rev Peter Chemasuet described Serut as a selfless person who took a leading role to advocate for the land rights of the community, citing 1974 when he led a delegation to see President Jomo Kenyatta over title deeds.?

His wife Pamela Serut described her husband as a jewel.

"My husband has left a big gap in our lives that nobody will be able to fill. As a family, we have accepted God's will to take his soul. Let him rest in peace till we meet again," she said.

His daughter Michelle while eulogising the former MP said death had robbed her father her before he could see her children.

"I hate that you won't see my children. I hate that you won't get to see the woman I become but I'll make you proud," posted Michelle on her Twitter account.

Deputy President William Ruto remembered Serut as a gifted debater, persistent and a fighter for justice.

Leaders from Bungoma led by Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka mourned the late MP and described him as a charismatic and development-conscious leader.

Lusaka said Serut distinguished himself as a tireless champion of the rights of his marginalised Sabaot community.

[Robert Amalemba, Martin Ndiema and Nathan Ochunge]