@Waithaka06
Former long-serving national assembly speaker Francis Ole Kaparo has been instaled as the Maasai community spokesperson living in Laikipia.
Kaparo was enthroned to the position by elders from the five clans of Ilng’wesi, Lewaso, Ildigiri, Ilmumonyot and Ilmokoodo.
The ceremony was held on Saturday at Kaparo’s rural home in Kimanjo village in Mukogodo Westward in Laikipia North constituency.
Maasai council of elders’ chairman Simon Ole Kinyaga said anyone who claims to be the spokesperson is an intruder.
“We have two types of intruders in Laikipia, those trying to evict others and the herds of livestock. We caution other people purporting to speak on behalf of Laikipia Maasai to stop,” Kinyaga said.
Elders and leaders who attended the ceremony praised Kaparo saying he was best placed to be the community leader.
Among those who attended were Laikipia North legislator Sarah Lekorere, Laikipia assembly deputy speaker Daniel Nyausi (Mukogodo East), Chalubo Kaparo (Segera) former Mukogodo East MCA Paul Lebeneyo, retired district commissioner Wilfred Legei among others.
“Kaparo served as Laikipia East MP in this cosmopolitan area, elected as speaker of the national assembly for three consecutive terms and served as the National Cohesion and Integration Commission chairman,” Kinyaga said.
They cautioned Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina and former Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel against speaking on issues concerning Laikipia saying they did not belong to the area and knew very little.
“Ledama is kilometres away from Laikipia and should not engage in our local matters while Lempurkel comes from Samburu,” Lekorere said.
He cautioned the senator against issuing inciteful statements, urging him to address issues affecting the people of Narok.
“We have lived harmoniously with other communities, we do not want outsiders to come and incite us,” Lekorere said.
She rooted for the education of school-going children who are of age to eliminate cultural practices that are outdated like cattle rustling saying moranism ended in Laikipia in the ’80s.
The installation of Kaparo as the community’s spokesperson means that anyone willing to speak to the community must go through him for them to get express authority.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
