• The leaders have declared their intent to vie for the gubernatorial post.,
•The office of the governor which is the most influential office in the county has attracted four MPs and two civil servants.
Image: KIPLANG'AT KIRUI
As the 2022 polls approach, politicians and technocrats who want to be governor are criss-crossing Narok county.
Four MPs, a PS and CAS have declared their intention to try to succeed outgoing Governor Samuel Tunai.
The office of the governor, the most influential in the county, has attracted four MPs and two civil servants.
In the race for the UDA ticket are Labour CAS Patrick Ntutu, Youth Affairs PS Charles Sunkuli, MPs Gabriel Tongoyo (Narok West), Korei ole Lemein (Narok South) and Soipan Kudate (Woman Representative).
Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta is likely to get the ODM ticket.
PS Sunkuli will also be on the ballot but he has not said which party he will join.
Ntutu, Tongoyo, Lemein and Kenta come from the Ipurko clan while Sunkuli and Soipan come from the Moitanik and Iloita clans.
Unconfirmed reports suggest MP Lemein has dropped his gubernatorial ambitions and is concentrating on recapturing his parliamentary seat.
Image: KIPLANG'AT KIRUI
All the candidates have both the professional and required academic qualifications.
They have all been successful in their fields and, on a personal basis, they are all respected individuals in the Maasai community.
So, the two key remaining determinants in the Maasai community are clan affiliation and age.
The clans forming part of Narok county include the most populous and dominant Ilpurko and Ilkeekonyoike, mostly found around Suswa and Nairagi Enkare.
The Iloitai are found in Loita in Narok South; the Ildamat found mostly around Ntulele area and, finally, Moitanik, Siria and Uasin Kishu, are all found in Kilgoris in the Trans Mara region.
Th Maasai community has several age sets and each carries certain responsibilities within the community in line with the traditions and customs of the Maasai.
Rarely is there any kind of conflict in exercising duties within each age's area of jurisdiction. For instance, the role of the morans (to protect the community from any form of aggression) and the elders (to advise the community on important issues) are distinct and never conflict.
Image: KIPLANG'AT KIRUI
In Maasai politics, clanism cannot be wished away.
Clanism takes centre stage as it always does, so candidates from small clans will have to work around the clock to defeat rival from big clans to have a shot at he governor's seat.
The age factor, known as Ol-porror, will most likely come in the form of advice from the elders of the community who are mostly from the il-nyangusi age set.
The Maa community takes advice from their elders seriously and the candidate backed by the Maasai elders will be the one to watch.
Former Heritage Minister William Ole Ntimama (deceased), was the de facto leader of the Council of Elders of the Maasai community.
The il-nyangusi elders have a lot of influence on the Maa community and whoever will be backed the elders will have a big edge.
Image: KIPLANG'AT KIRUI
In the county, the Kipsigis community comprises a substantial number of registered voters and their presence cannot also be ignored.
Whoever gets their support will get a substantial number of votes but will most certainly lose nearly all the Maasai votes as his candidacy will be viewed as trying to wrest leadership from the Maasai community in their ancestral land.
Depending on how each candidate plays his cards and bearing in mind the dynamics of Maasai politics, clanism and age, it will be a all order to succeed Governor Tunai.
(Edited by V. Graham)