Sakuda stokes fresh controversy in Maasailand

Sakuda has dismissed claims that Narok was zoned as a URP region.  [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

By Stephen Makabila

Nairobi, Kenya: After sparking political fire in The National Alliance (TNA) by leading calls for internal election and leadership change, Kajiado West MP Moses ole Sakuda was at it again, seen as the main player in the cancelled State House visit by Maasai elders on Tuesday.

From the time he suceeded  the late Prof George Saitoti as Kajiado North MP in the September 2012 by-election, Sakuda has remained politically visible, but with hidden desire to be not only a key leader in Maasai politics, but also in TNA.

Head of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Nairobi Adams Oloo says there is a leadership vacuum in Maasai politics that Sakuda wants to exploit.

“Sakuda is a vocal politician and that puts his visibility above the rest of Maasai leaders, but he does not have what it takes to win the hearts of the Maasai as their political point man. He still has an uphill task given Maasailand is not politically homogenous,” says Dr Oloo.

Prof Munene Macharia of the United States International University (USIU)-Kenya, however, says Sakuda has some chances, when compared to other political players in the region. “Ntimama and John Keen are ageing while General (rtd) Joseph Nkaisery who is the senior most elected politician is not forceful enough. Sakuda seems to have realised this and he is doing everything possible to position himself across,” said Macharia, a professor of History and International Relations.

In an interview with The Standard on Sunday, Sakuda admitted he had some role in the abortive State House visit by elders from the Maasai community. Sakuda said: “There is need for the Maasai to speak in one political voice for their own good. Remaining divided and scattered politically is not going to help us and the earlier we realise this the better.”

Indeed, Jubilee Majority leader Adan Duale, openly lashed out at Sakuda on the floor of the House accusing the MP of spending parliamentary time organising meetings for Maa leaders at State House. And Sakuda told The Standard on Sunday: “Yes, I was involved in the arrangement and its us who called-off the meeting to consult more and bring more elders onboard.” He went on: “I have not taken lightly Duale’s attack on me over the meeting and I am going to face him on the floor of the House on Tuesday.” But there are those who feel the meeting was cancelled due to intervention of Deputy President William Ruto over TNA-URP politics in Narok County.

Ruto and his allies were reportedly unhappy with the meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and leaders from Narok County because they believed it would have opened ways for TNA to penetrate Maasai land. Ruto reportedly told the President that the meeting was going to undermine the good working relationship TNA and URP enjoy as Jubilee coalition partners.

Ntimama, who was going to lead a team of defectors, had earlier in the week indicated that URP leaders were unhappy with the visit.

Sakuda says he was also aware of attempts by a governor and a Speaker of a county assembly to scuttle the State House meeting by lobbying Ruto. “The Deputy President is a friend, and I do not think he has any problem with elders seeing President Kenyatta,” added Sakuda.

In last year’s election, Narok County was zoned as a URP zone while Kajiado County as a TNA zone. Those who were elected MPs on URP ticket in Narok County include MPs Ken Kiloku (Narok East), Lemein Korei (Narok South), Patrick ole Ntutu (Narok West) and Gideon Konchella (Kilgoris). In the county, only Emuria Dikirr MP Johann Ngeno and Moitalel Kenta (Narok North) were elected outside URP. Ngeno was elected on KNC party, which is headed by former assistant minister Peter Kenneth while Kenta won on a TNA ticket.