Why Narok demons could haunt Kajiado poll

 A few weeks ago demonstrations in Narok turned violent leaving several people dead  

Underlying the campaigns for the Kajiado Central parliamentary seat are deep fissures that could dash Uhuru Kenyatta’s hopes of wresting the seat from Raila’s Odinga’s Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord).

At the heart of the election are clan issues that have since the advent of electoral politics dominated Maasai politics and anger by the community following the violent dispersal of demonstrations against Narok Governor Samuel Kuntai ole Tunai.

This, local analysts say, could tilt the voting pattern in favour of Orange Democratic Party (ODM) candidate Elijah Memusi, who defected from the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) after he was defeated by Patrick Tutui in the primaries and later won the ODM nominations.

The Kajiado Central seat became vacant following the appointment of Maj Gen (rtd) Joseph Nkaissery as Interior CS to replace homeboy and hotelier Joseph ole Lenku whose stint at Harambee House ended in disgrace.

But Maasai pride that their own had replaced Lenku were quickly dampened when protests in Narok against Governor Tunai were violently dispersed by police, allegedly on Nkaisery’s orders. The killing of two people and subsequent arrest of Narok Senator Stephen ole Ntutu and four MPs inflamed the Maasai into more protests, forcing the personal intervention of Deputy President William Ruto. The protests, however, only died down when the five politicians were released on bail.

Arch rivalry

“We have had problems all the way from Naivasha to Narok and the government has been watching. We will tell them that we (Maasais) are no pushover. We are electing Memusi,” he said.

A fortnight ago, Kajiado West MP, Moses ole Sakuda, warned that the standoff in Narok County could cost JAP the seat in Kajiado Central.

He said the violent manner in which the police broke the demonstrations had shocked the Maasai nation and warned that it could influence the poll.

Nkaissery has not only endorsed his perennial foe-turned-ally, Patrick Tutui of JAP, but has also appeared in a campaign rally in the constituency alongside President Uhuru. This has not gone down well with locals who say that as a cabinet secretary, he is not supposed to participate in politics.

According to the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission, the constituency has 39,538 voters. Out of these, Matapato, which is the largest clan, has more than 20,000 voters, Kankere has 12,000, Ildamat has 3,000, while the non-Maasais who mainly live in the urban centres of Bisil, Namanga, Maili Tisa and Kajiado towns have a swing vote in excess of 4,000.

Nkaissery, who hails from the most populous Matapato clan, has not been in good terms with Tutui, whom he has vanquished in three consecutive elections.

Between a rock and hard place

But last month, the two leaders shook hands and hugged in front of thousands of their supporters who had gathered at Kajiado County Assembly Speaker Johnson Osoi’s home. Word on the ground, however, has it that Nkaissery only supported Tutui following a meeting with President Uhuru and Tutui at State House.

JAP is nonetheless banking on Nkaissery to deliver votes from the Olkitenyi sub-clan of Matapato, where both he and Memusi come from. This has put the CS in a dicey situation that pits his party, ODM, against the president.

The CS finds himself between a rock and hard place. Whichever candidate he backs, he will end up being viewed as a rebel by his party or a traitor by the president in whose government he is serving.

Kenyatta camped in the area on February 10 together with Ruto. Raila has also made persistent forays in the area to campaig for Memusi.

The Olkitenyi sub-clan from Memusi hails, traverses Bissil, Olepolos, Illpatimaro, Lorngosua, Ruanche, Emotoroki, Olmoleliani and Olkeriai sub–locations, which are populous; while Tutui’s sub-clan encompasses Kumpa, Meto, Oldonyoorok, Eluanata, Mailua and Namanga sub–locations.