Tension in Narok County as factions plan separate rallies

A confrontation is looming in Narok County as police cleared two political factions to hold parallel rallies in Narok town Monday.

Anxiety has gripped the town as supporters of the two factions, one for Narok Governor Samuel ole Tunai, and another against, gear up for the two meetings they say will be an evaluation of how the governor has managed the county since he was elected.

The two rallies will be held only two kilometres apart. The anti-Tunai group is set to meet at Ilmashariani, outside Narok town, while the pro-Tunai meeting will be held at the county government headquarters.

Behind the anti-Tunai crusade are Senator Stephen ole Ntutu, MPs Moitalel ole Kenta (Narok North), Patrick ole Ntutu (Narok West), Korei Lemein (Narok South) and Johana Ng’eno (Emurua Dikirr) as well as former Transport Licensing Board chairman Hassan ole Kamwaro.

The group, according to the organisers, will publicly evaluate the governor and weigh their options in their engagement with his government. One of the key issues will be entrance fee collection at the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

REVOKE CONTRACT
They are calling for the revocation of the contract awarded to the Kenya Airports Parking Services to collect revenue for the county through the e-ticketing system in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve to pave the way for fresh applications.

They claim the contract was awarded unprocedurally. The reserve generates revenues of up to Sh2 billion for the county annually.

“The origin of tribulations in the county is a result of the governor’s inability to lead and his dictatorial approach when handling the opposition,” Mr Kenta said on Sunday.

According to Senator Ntutu, their meeting will discuss what he called “the inequitable development of the county, mismanagement of county resources, and illegal procurement of 11 ambulances from the Red Cross by the county government and the eviction of settlers from the Mau forest”.

Planning the pro-Tunai rally are Narok County Assembly Majority leader Stephen ole Kudate, Deputy Speaker Joseph Wotuni and Olpusimoru Ward MCA Wilson Masikonte.

The meeting will be addressed by Mr Tunai, Deputy Governor Everlyne Aruasa, Kilgoris MP Gideon Konchella and his Narok East counterpart Lemanken Aramat. 

CHEAP POLITICS

Mr Masikonte accused Tunai critics as playing cheap politics. “They have vested interests on the issues they have raised and are stocking clanism and tribal politics to derail the county development agenda,” Mr Masikonte told Sunday Nation.

Meanwhile, Deputy President William Ruto has been called on to intervene and calm political tempers in the county and ensure development activities did not stall.

Mara Education Trust chairman Andrew ole Sunkuli and Nairobi County speaker Alex Ole Magelo called for a truce, noting that it would be difficult for the government to operate effectively under such circumstances.

“As things stand now, there can be no meaningful development. Let them stick to their mandate, and in 2017 we will ask them what they did with your votes,” Mr Sunkuli said.