Ntimama’s wish fulfilled as kin and friends plan befitting sendoff

 

Burial committee chairman Hassan ole Kamwaro, who has been a close family friend, said the team had settled on September 10 for burial, but subject to the availability of President Uhuru Kenyatta who is expected to attend.

Former Cabinet minister William ole Ntimama shared his wish to die at home with his neighbour Gideon Partoip some 10 years ago.

“This has come to pass. Mzee is resting as he had wished,” Mr Partoip said yesterday.

He said Ntimama had earlier wanted to be buried at his Oloropil farm, but recently changed his mind and opted to be buried at his Motonyi family grave yard where all other family members will be buried.

“He had set aside a piece of land within the compound where he would be buried. What we are now doing as the committee together with the family is identifying the spot where the grave will be dug,” said Partoip.

And just a day after the demise of the veteran Narok politician, a committee has been set up to coordinate burial arrangements.

Burial committee chairman Hassan ole Kamwaro, who has been a close family friend, said the team had settled on September 10 for burial, but subject to the availability of President Uhuru Kenyatta who is expected to attend.

Yesterday, at Ntimama’s Narok home, members of the public continued to troop in to sign the condolences book and condole with the family.

Some of the prominent personalities who have visited the family include Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi. He visited on Friday evening.

Maa leader

The Narok committee is being overseen by Ntimama’s son Timothy who is coordinating with the Oloropil and Nairobi homes.

Meanwhile, civil rights groups in the area have raised concerns over hate messages being sent on social media regarding Ntimama’s death and urged the police to investigate such posts.

“As we are mourning a great Maa leader who has tirelessly fought for the rights and recognition of the marginalised Maa community, we have been alarmed by some disturbing messages on social media by some people purporting to celebrate the death,” said Martin Kamwaro, a lawyer.

Mr Kamwaro, a Maasai rights advocate, said the postings were against African doctrines, which call for respect to the dead.

“Ntimama’s demise has dealt a big blow on Kenya and the Maa community. He has fearlessly fought for the community’s socio-economic and civil rights. As a community, we have been orphaned,” he said.

The advocate said Ntimama’s death has left a leadership gap that will take a long time to fill.

The business community in Narok also praised Ntimama for encouraging the Maasai community members to venture into business and being the first man to build the tallest building in Narok town.

“Ntimama encouraged the Maasai to move to town and do business. It was not a mean task bringing a Maasai from the grazing land to come and do business in town,” said David Mbatiany, area National Chamber of Commerce and Industry(NCCI) Chairman.

 

He said the first tall building called ‘Maa Towers’ built by Ntimama in the late 1980s was a model and a landmark.

In his Nairobi home, relatives and friends yesterday kept streaming in to offer their condolences.

Despite the lavish Lavington home being kept out of bounds for journalists, a spot check by The Standard on Sunday revealed a beehive of activities.

The security guards at the entrance seemed to have a hard time opening and closing the gate every few minutes to let in and out vehicles ferrying mourners and possibly other family members.

The guards said they had strict instructions not to allow members of the press into the compound.

“That is the order. Members of the press are not welcome,” said a security man.

The guard had spotted The Standard branded car as soon as we arrived at the gate and stopped us.

If the mourners did have on dark sunglasses, their vehicles had tinted glasses. A phone call to some of the closest family members and friends to follow up the arrangements bore no fruit, as most of them either did not pick up or said they were in a meeting.

On Friday, Ntimama’s home was thronged by leaders from across the political divide, including Cord leader Raila Odinga and Narok Senator Stephen Ntutu.

Some leaders posted their condolence messages on social media or sent to media outlets, among them Mudavadi. “He was straight talking, shooting and honest, but never vindictive. In the process of agitating against land injustices, Ntimama sought something that was not in vogue then; negotiated ethnic coexistence,” Mudavadi said.

The veteran politician passed on aged 86 in his Narok home on Thursday night.