Release Truth report now, Raila says at Ntimama funeral service

ODM leader Raila Odinga has yet again called for the release of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission report.

He was addressing mourners at the funeral service for former Cabinet Minister William ole Ntimama at All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi, on Tuesday.

The opposition leader recalled that Mr Ntimama supported him in his quest to save the Mau Forest against advice that he would lose politically.

He said all these injustices have been recorded in the report, which was compiled by a team led by former Permanent Secretary Bethuel Kiplagat.

The report was handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta in May 2013. It has never been tabled for debate in Parliament.

Mr Ntimama served as an ODM minister in the Grand Coalition government, his docket being National Heritage and Culture. He ran in the 2013 elections on an ODM ticket, but lost to Mr Moitalel ole Kenta of Jubilee.

On Tuesday, Mr Odinga said: “Let the government table the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission report in Parliament.”

Relatives, friends and political leaders from both the government and the opposition paid their final respects to the fallen politician, who will be buried at his Motonyi home in Narok County on Wednesday.
Major-General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery, the Cabinet Secretary for the Interior and Co-ordination of the National Government, also paid tribute to Mr Ntimama’s leadership. He said: “Your leadership inspired me, both as a political leader and a friend.”

Mr Nkaissery also conveyed apologies from President Kenyatta and his deputy, Mr William Ruto. He said the President could not attend the service because he had travelled to Mogadishu. However, he is expected to attend the burial.

“Mzee Ntimama was not just a leader of the Maasai but of the nation as a whole,” said Mr Nkaissery. “Mzee gave us direction and hope.”
The CS gave the rest of his tribute in the Maa language.

Mr Kenta, who succeeded Mr Ntimama as the Narok North MP, said: “You did all that a leader could do for his people. You showed us that we mattered and taught us the importance of sacrifice and love for our people.”

Veteran politician and former Assistant minister John Keen, a friend of the deceased, also wrote a tribute although he was unable to read it himself and could not attend the service due to illness.

“I remember a particular incident when he arrived at school for the first day,” Mr Keen recalled in the tribute read for him by Kajiado North MP Moses ole Sakuda. “I organised a few boys and we were to look for a bucket full of water and washed him hard and scrubbed his body with salt.

“That did not please him, and he disappeared from school for another month.”\

Mr Ntimama’s daughter Debrah Sanaipei, a former Miss Tourism Kenya, also paid glowing tribute to her father.

“He loved to dance and always encouraged us to dance whenever we were at parties,” said Ms Sanaipei. “He loved family gatherings and seeing his grandchildren and great-grand kids, and most of all, he loved our mother.

“They had just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary barely seven days before he passed away.”

Mr Ntimama’s sons Timothy Tempes and Amos Sipoi also paid tributes to their father.

POWERFUL WORDS

The funeral service was presided over by the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), the Most Rev Jackson ole Sapit, who recalled that Mr Ntimama had predicted that he would get the job. He was elected to the position in May.

“A lot has been said of the powerful words he said, and one of the words that he said that came true was when he prophesied — with a slip of the tongue — that I would serve here as an Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya,” the Archbishop said. “And I was glad that he was seated here to witness before he died.”

All Saints Cathedral has a sitting capacity of 1,500 to 2,000 people. Many more were outside on Tuesday.

A large number of the mourners who turned up for the services were in traditional Maa dress.

Among the mourners were former Tanzania prime minister Edward Lowassa, Narok Governor Samuel ole Tunai, Senator Stephen ole Ntutu and Woman Representative Soipan Kudate, as well as Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkula. There were also other leaders from various parts of the country.
Keep their land
Mr Lowasa, who described Mr Ntimama as a hero, said the late politician was keen on keeping Maasai land protected. He urged Maa leaders to educate their people to keep their land instead of selling it.

Other leaders described Mr Ntimama as a “walking library” due to his immense love for books. They also celebrated his love for culture.

Author Muthoni Likimani said she remembered Mr Ntimama as a “tall, slim handsome man”, whom she met when he was training to be a teacher at Kahuhia Teacher Training College. The veteran politician died at his Motonyi home on September 1.