Ntutu-Tongoyo rivalry, chaos overshadow Maa festival attended by Ruto

By  Vitalis Kimutai

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

Politics overshadowed celebrations at the fourth Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival, held at Sekenani in Narok County and presided over by President William Ruto.

Chaos erupted as supporters of Governor Patrick Ntutu and Narok West Member of Parliament Gabriel Tongoyo clashed, temporarily paralysing the proceedings as the President and other dignitaries sat on the dais.

It was the first time in the festival's history, which is held rotationally by Narok, Kajiado and Samburu counties, that politics took centre stage, prompting the President to plead with locals to avoid such ugly scenes at subsequent festivals.

The fallout in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) also featured at the ceremony, as leaders told President Ruto that some youthful leaders backed by the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the Rift Valley had been sidelined and that the party was divided.

Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian boldly told the President that leadership squabbles in ODM threatened his bid for a second term in office by dividing members of the Maasai community ahead of the August 10, 2027 General Election.

Chairs were thrown, destroyed and scattered, tents brought down, punches exchanged and some vehicles stoned as chaos disrupted the festival while security officers struggled to restore order.

The incident came as Mr Ntutu and Mr Tongoyo sought to flex their political muscle at the event, leading to a rare fight at a presidential function that was supposed to be devoid of political contest.

President Ruto pleaded with residents to shun politics of division, fighting and hatred and instead embrace unity, give leaders an opportunity to sell their agendas, policies and manifestos, and then pick the best among them as their next leader.

“I am humbly requesting you: do not be divided, do not plant the seeds of hatred, fighting and division. Instead, give each leader a platform and opportunity to explain their agenda, then retreat and pick the best among them,” Dr Ruto stated.

He reminded locals that in the run-up to the 2022 General Election, there had been a heated debate over who would be the UDA gubernatorial candidate between Cabinet Secretary for Defence Soipan Tuiya, Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu, who was then serving as a Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, and Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo.

“I told you then that three of them are my people, which they still are. I told you that the arrangement we had would be an all-inclusive one. That none of them will be left out when we form the government after the election,” Dr Ruto stated.

Dr Ruto said, “Tongoyo is an MP and chairman of the Security and National Administration Committee in the National Assembly, Soipan is a Cabinet Secretary, while Ntutu is the Governor. Why are you worried as a people about the future? Let us all agree that we will sort that out together without any chaos.”

“Unfortunately, the position that is being fought for is only one — Gubernatorial. Had there been an opportunity to share the position, we would have split it and gave it to the parties. That unfortunately is not possible as there can only be one Governor at a time,” President Ruto stated.

He told residents and leaders to avoid political fights that not only divided the people but also gave the community a bad name ahead of the next General Election.

Tourism and culture, he said, went hand in hand, noting that annual tourist arrivals had risen to 2.8 million in the country over the past three years, while the construction of the Bomas centre would attract more tourists once completed.

“This is an important cultural event for the Maasai community, for tourism and the country. From next year, we should avoid introducing politics in the cultural festivals so we can allow the Maa community to showcase their culture and enhance tourism. We should be able to invite tourists and international guests without fear of chaos breaking out,” Dr Ruto reminded residents.

Mr Ntutu and Mr Tongoyo are eyeing the UDA gubernatorial ticket, a contest that threatens to divide supporters of President Ruto. The opposition is expected to field Jubilee Secretary-General and former Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta, while former Principal Secretary Charles Sunkuli is also expected to join the race.

"Sidelined and suffocated" 

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina had a difficult time controlling leaders who spoke at the event and twice attempted, unsuccessfully, to snatch the microphone from nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian, offering a glimpse of the fight within ODM between its elderly and youthful leaders.

“Mr President, I want to tell you point blank what they cannot tell you anywhere — that the youthful leaders propped up by our former leader, the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga, are being frustrated, sidelined and fought. They are being suffocated,” Senator Lemaletian said.

She said, “The elderly and senior politicians are trampling on us, yet the former Prime Minister in his wisdom, knew why space had to be given to youthful leaders with a promising future.”

“There is an urgent need Mr President for you to take the lead and unite the Maasai leaders and the people. If you do not convene a meeting of the ODM leaders in the Maa community, it will be a very costly affair to you next year,” Senator Lemaletian stated.

She said the bigwigs in ODM had suppressed the voices of young people, who make up the majority, in a move that went against the beliefs of the late Odinga and the principles of democracy.

As she made her points, Senator Ledama attempted to snatch the microphone from her, but she stood firm, held on to it and moved around the podium, insisting that, like the others, she had to be heard as a community leader.

The President said his administration would continue to enhance development projects in Samburu, Narok and Kajiado, noting that the regions had been sidelined by previous governments.

“My administration has bought 10,000 acres of land in Kedong to be used in resettling members of the Maasai community, another 10,000 has been acquired in Marmar ranch in Samburu for the same purpose. We have given Amboseli National Park to Kajiado County, though some people have gone to court,” Dr Ruto stated.

He reiterated that 2,000 acres in Magadi, Kajiado, would no longer be managed by one company, as the number of companies would be increased to five in the spirit of competition. He added that the firms had been directed to add value to minerals mined in the area.

“There are many companies ready to invest in gas and chemical extraction in the Magadi area and we will ensure that value addition is done for our minerals before being exported,” Dr Ruto said.

The international airport under construction in Narok, he said, would be opened next year, while construction of an airstrip had been completed. He added that Sh1.7 billion had been set aside for the construction of a Level Five hospital in Kilgoris and that a Sh400 million hospital was under construction in Sogoo, Narok South.

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