UDA sibling rivalry intensifies in Narok ahead of party elections

Stakes are very high in the upcoming United Democratic Alliance (UDA) elections in Narok County where two rival camps are positioning themselves to clinch key seats.

Politicians allied to Governor Patrick Ntutu and those close to Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo have been traversing the vast county to woo UDA members ahead of the April 26, 2024 elections.

Governor Ntutu is spearheading campaigns for himself while another faction led by former Governor Samuel Tunai is fronting Tongoyo for the county UDA chairman position.

Politicians in Governor Ntutu's camp include; Emurua Dikirr MP Johanah Ngeno, the county woman rep Rebecca Tonkei and Kitilai Ole Ntutu (Narok South) while those fronting Tongoyo are Tunai, Lemanken Aramat (Narok East) and Korei Lemein (former Narok South MP).

With more than 131,000 registered UDA Party members, Narok is among seven counties where phase l of the party grassroots elections will be held in the staggered UDA exercise.  Others are Busia, Homa Bay, Garisa, Isiolo, Nairobi and West Pokot.

On Tuesday, the campaigns took a wrong turn after a Member of the County Assembly (MCA) was roughed up in a burial ceremony for opposing governor Ntutu's candidacy.

Mara ward MCA Chepkwony Kipngeno would later record a statement with the police on Wednesday night fearing for his life.

Kipngeno faced the wrath of the governor's security detail for drumming up support for Tongoyo before microphones were turned off on him as he was roughed up and pushed out of the podium.

The incident happened during the burial ceremony of Mzee Daniel Kimiti Kinayia, father of Keekonyokie MCA Lemiso Kimiti in Nairagie Enkare village in Narok East.esday.

The MCA also faced the governor's security rage after he criticised the much publicised sh100 million ward fund by the county government saying there were no projects in all the wards that reflect millions of shillings said to have been invested there.

He was thrown off the podium by the governor's security details after he said, “This month, on 26, we will be having UDA elections, and you from keekonyokie ward should know that we are supporting the faction led by former governor Samuel Tunai who is fronting Tongoyo for chairmanship."

“And I would wish to comment on an utterance from one of the speakers here who said Sh100 million has been used in the wards, but why are there no roads in these wards if, really this money reached the wards,” that was just before the microphones were switched off and three people from the security detail jumped to the podium and pushed the MCA away.

When he woke to speak, the governor dismissed the MCA and called on the UDA supporters to register in big numbers.

Speaking after recording the statements with the police at the Narok CID offices, the MCA said he fears for his life after the incident and threatening messages sent to him through his mobile phone.

“I am now fearing for my life following threats from the governor's office security officers that they would harm me, and that is why I am here,” said the ward rep when he addressed the press at the police station.

Mosiro ward MCA Sonko Maika Olorgeso and his Oloolmaasani ward counterpart Samuel Towet who accompanied Kipngeno to record the statements raised the same concerns saying the lengths to which the first-term governor can go to stem criticism has shocked them.

“I criticized the governor's Sh100 pet ward fund projects when he was in my ward a month ago, but microphones were switched off, and when we support the other UDA faction we are being threatened, '' said Olorgeso.

“So antagonistic is the governor to being criticized that his security detail has no fear about going physical with those who dare question him or his regime, which is wrong he is the one to answer us and tell us where is the Sh100 million, period,” said Towet.