Rebel Jubilee MPs from Narok county boycotted a function presided over by William Ruto. Ruto was shocked when he arrived to commission the construction of roads in Narok town only to find the embattled Narok governor Samuel Tunai and a MCAs waiting to receive him. The Sh1.2 billion project is to build two bypasses in Narok town as well as construction of the Sh1billion Narok-Sekenani-Maasai Mara and Ololung’a-Olmekenyu roads to open up the county for trade. Sources say the rebel MPs led by Narok senator Stephen Ole Ntutu, Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta, Narok North MP Patrick Ole Ntutu and Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno were invited for the function but rejected the invitation saying they were not ready to share a podium with both Ruto and Tunai. The boycott has now sent cold shivers down the spine of Ruto and by extension Jubilee that the rebel MPs could be technically out of Jubilee and that come 2017, it will not be business as usual for Ruto and his URP party which enjoys reasonable following in the county. What was however expected to be a joyful occasion that many even thought would be used to reconcile the rebel MPs with the governor turned out to be a low-keyed function boycotted by majority of Maasai leaders and elders. It is not however known if the rebel MPs lobbied their supporters to keep off the function to send a message to Ruto that his ally Tunai enjoys no support in the county. The MPs say by gracing the occasion, they would be turned into rubber stamp to approve corrupt deals in the county government. Intelligence reports had reached Ruto that Narok MPs, MCAs and politicians had plotted to embarrass him by boycotting the function and Ruto also acted on the reports and summoned a few MPs from Narok allied to Governor Tunai. Kilgoris MP Gideon Konchela, Narok East MP Lemanken Aramat and woman representative Soipan Tuya were the only Narok MPs present. Ruto was accompanied by TNA legislators Njogu Barua of Gichugu, Jamleck Kamau, Kigumo and Uasin Gishu counterpart Jackson Mandago. Sources say the rebel MPs known as the Muthaiga five are working on a political scheme to nominate one of them to run against Governor Tunai in 2017 elections. The rebels have been sending warning signals to Ruto that Tunai is not as popular as he has been made to believe but Ruto has been laughing off the claims and has remained steadfast in his support for Tunai. Narok senator Stephen Ntutu is the one spearheading the ouster of Tunai. According to sources well versed with the 2017 gameplan, the rebel MPs have identified Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta and his Narok North counterpart Patrick Ole Ntutu as candidates for the seat while Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno is the running mate. Sources say the team has consulted delegates and elders from all corners of the county who will converge and nominate between Ole Kenta and Ole Ntutu while the position of running mate is reserved for Ng’eno. It is also important to note that Ole Kenta is allied to TNA and during the 2013 elections, he humiliated ODM’s William Ntimama. Sources now say both shortlisted candidates enjoy the support of the elder Ntimama. During the 2013 elections, URP’s Tunai garnered 87,832 votes against ODM’s Parsoloi Nchoe who got 39,100 votes. Others were Daniel Kiptunene who was an independent candidate, 20,073, Francis Nkoitoi of WDM, 20,789, John Konchellah of Kanu, 9,207, Joseph Ole Musuni of KNC 55,008 and another independent candidate Ledama Ole Kina who garnered 4,175 votes. On Tunai’s side are Kilgoris MP Gideon Konchellah and Narok East’s Ken Kiloku both from minority clans and are in support of the embattled Tunai as does women representative Soipan Tuya and 30 MCAs. While Ntimama has not been at the frontline of the dispute, his daughter Lydia and niece Leah are in the anti-Tunai crusade. The anti-Tunai camp claims that they are fighting for equity in employment and resource allocation. They claim Tunai has sidelined the Maasai, favouring outsiders in employment opportunities that arose with devolved units. Narok county is home to six Maasai clans: Purko, Keekonyokie, Ildamat, Uasinkishu, Siria and Moitanik.
CITIZEN