Moment Uhuru gave ACK bishop a dressing down
An Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop was the subject of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s wrath at the burial of the late William Ole Ntimama on Wednesday over his remarks that the Maasai community should put its unity before development.
Giving an example of the Luo community, where he said ODM leader Mr Raila Odinga’s diehard supporters had given unity as the reason why they rejected former minister Raphael Tuju and thrown their weight behind the opposition leader, Bishop Julius Nalamae from Transmara had urged Maasais to prioritise their unity above anything else, including development.
Mr Kenyatta, angered by the remarks, admonished the preacher saying unity and development must go hand in hand.
“On unity before development, there is a Bishop who said we must have unity of the Maasai first. I don’t know who he is but I would like us to know each other. But to say unity without development is stupidity,” the head of state said in a harsh reproach to the man of the cloth.
Speakers at the burial service, including former Tanzania Prime Minister and presidential aspirant Mr Edward Lowasa, called for an urgent meeting to chart the way forward for the Maasai community.
COMMUNITY UNITY
Mr Lowasa directed Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Gen (rtd) Joseph Nkaissery to take charge as the senior government official from the Maasai community and convene a meeting for Maasais in Kenya and Tanzania where all the leaders will come and discuss who shall be their next leader.
Narok Senator Stephen Ole Ntutu on the other hand said a meeting will be convened in two weeks’ time where politicians from the community will speak out their mind and politics.
“We shall convene a large Maasai meeting to sort out their issues after three weeks where they can politic. We don’t want to fight at Ntimama’s grave now,” he said.
Kajiado Governor Mr David Nkedianye disagreed with Mr Duale’s calls for national unity above community unity saying the later must come before the former.
“The units must be stable before the hall is stable. As a Maasai nation we need to be stable. Just as a family, strong communities will build a strong Kenya,” he said.
POLITICAL FRONTIERS
Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta and a close ally of Mr Ntimama said the new Maasai leader will not be imposed on the community.
He said those eyeing the Maasai community must engage its members directly and not through proxies.
“They have no ill motive Mr President but they don’t want to engage with you through ruthless political frontiers,” he said.
“Those who have been trying to clamour for the fall of the king, hold your horses because the locals will decide who will show the way. Ntimama lit the lamp and it is still burning,” he stated.
