The Maasai swing vote could be open for grabs by Jubilee and Cord in the August 8 polls after some Kajiado and Narok MPs dismissed Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery’s bid to become their spokesman.
Nkaissery has been asking the community to rally behind President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reelection bid but his rejection as the next Maa spokesman threatens his political influence.
Speaking to the Star yesterday, lawmakers Moitalel ole Kenta (Narok North) and Moses Sakuda (Kajiado West) yesterday said Nkaissery is unfit to replace former Heritage minister William ole Ntimama.
Sakuda, who is also eyeing the influential position, said Nkaissery does not qualify for the post because he has clashed with many leaders in the community.
“He already has a bad CV with the community. Nkaissery arrested Narok leaders, he arrested Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel and is always fighting Kajiado Central MP Elijah Memusi. Maasai have no faith in him,” Sakuda said.
Kenta dismissed Nkaissery’s bid and his political influence in the community on grounds that he failed to deliver the Kajiado Central seat to Jubilee in the March 2015 by-election after resigning for the Interior ministry docket.
Not accepted here
“Why is he not listening? It means he does not even deserve to be listened to and cannot deliver,” Kenta said.
“Nkaissery is not accepted and he is cheating himself. He is living in a world that does not exist anymore.”
Kenta urged the Interior CS to eye a bigger seat such as the Presidency, because none of the Maa leaders are going to endorse or recognise him. “Telling us that you want to be a community leader is rubbish. You cannot be a community leader when you are also a civil servant. That is not going to work anymore,” he said.
However, Sakuda and Kajiado North MP Joseph Manje differed with Kenta for accusing the Jubilee administration of marginalising the Maasai community in development and public appointments.
Kenta said President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration “is the worst regime for Maasai people”, despite clinching the seat on the dissolved TNA party.
He said Jubilee has been sacking senior government officers, including PSs from the community, while shortchanging individuals emerging top in interviews.
The MP cited the sacking of PSs Joseph Tiampati (ICT) and John Konchella (State Department for East African Affairs).
Supporting opposition
Kenta also cited unexplained shortchanging of top candidates for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and Central Bank of Kenya key positions.
He said Uhuru denied Tukero ole Kina a chance to be the IEBC chairman after defeating other candidates.
Kenta added that former CBK deputy governor Haron Sirma’s hopes to assume the governor position after emerging best in interview was also quashed. “The Maa community is already supporting the opposition and it is a done deal. If they think Maasais are Jubilee people then let us wait for the elections,” Kenta said.
However, Manje and Sakuda said Jubilee has done a lot for the community compared to other regimes. They accused leaders alleging marginalisation of diverting from the reality and propagating “pure incitement” against Jubilee. Sakuda said no part of the community has been sidelined in development.
“It has stood with Maasais in terms of jobs. The other day we had more than 2, 000 Maa professionals from Samburu, Narok, Kajiado and Laikipia at State House,” he said.