Battle for Maa vote as Jubilee, DCP woo Maasai

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s political parties are scrambling for the Maa vote which supported the Orange Democratic Movement in the 2022 presidential election.

 In a scheme to woo the Maa speaking counties of Kjaiado, Narok and Samburu, the two parties have appointed key party officials from the region. Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has picked David Persaina  from Kajiado as party chairperson and Martin Ole Kamwaro from Narok as Deputy Secretary General in charge of Strategy.

 Uhuru’s Jubilee has picked Moitalel Ole Kenta to the prestigious Secretary General position who is also the spokesperson of the party.

 Simultaneously, former Planning Principal Secretary Saitoti Torome who also hails from Narok and who previously served as the party’s chairperson was retained as the new chairman of the Jubilee foundation.

 On Friday, the two parties organised the homecoming ceremonies of their officials with Gachagua pitching camp in Kajiado to preside over Persaina’s ceremony while Uhuru joined former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi, through a phone call address to celebrate the homecoming of Ole Kenta in Narok.

 Separately, Uhuru and Gachagua’s remarks in Narok and Kajiado counties focused on wooing the Maa to back their parties as they reiterated their commitments and resolve to work with the Maa people to form the government in the next year’s polls.

 While rallying the Maa region to back Matiang’i Uhuru recounted how the region supported his administration between 2013-2022, citing it as a reason why he settled on Kenta, as a way of returning a hand, so that he too could participate in taking the Jubilee party to the next level.

 “Maa region supported me when I vied for presidency and consequently during my administration and I will forever remain grateful. Leaders from the Maa region are honest, brave, selfless and hardworking and I have no doubt that Kenta will take our part in the next level,” Uhuru said.

 He exuded confidence that Kenta would join Matiang’i to consolidate votes from the Maa region and to fight for the democratic space as he hailed him to possess exemplary leadership skills. Gachagua told Kajiado residents that DCP belonged to them and that through the two party officials, the party was guaranteed that they would sit on the decision making table for the nation ahead of next year’s polls.

 “Maa region has been marginalised for a long time, as we strategise on forming the next administration, this region will be at the centre of the planning, DCP is a special vehicle that will cater for the interests of the Maa people,” Gachagua said.

 While courting the region, Gachagua accused President William Ruto of failing to deliver the pledges he made to the Maa region claiming instead of delivering the promise, the President allegedly spearheaded grabbing of the community land meant for the community. “In Kajiado there are enough reasons to say vote out Ruto next year. Kibiko land which belongs to Maa people have been grabbed, Ol-Donyike land in Magadi had been grabbed, we voted Ruto to put money in our pockets but instead ended grabbing our land,” he said.

 He added: “He promised to establish sewerage in Ongata Rongai, Isinya and Ngong, it is four years down the line and he has not fulfilled his promise, he pledged that he would return Amboseli National park to the community but he sponsored court cases to delay the matter.”

 He also slammed Ruto for not appointing a Cabinet Secretary from the Maa region, a move he said broke the tradition of all the other four presidents.

 “Since independence, only President Ruto has failed to appoint a XCabinet from Maa region, Jome Kenyatta appointed Stanley Ole tiptip, Danile Moi appointed George Saitoti and even appointed him his Vice President Mwai Kibaki appointed Geoffrey Mapukori Parpai while Uhuru worked with Joseph Ole Lenku, Joseph Nkaissery, and Keriako Tobiko,” he said.

Gachagua has announced a three-day tour of Kajiado where he said he would later pitch camps in Narok and Samburu counties.

 Narok, Kajiado and Samburu have 1,083,518 votes that the opposition are scrambling. In 2022, Narok had 398,852 registered voters while in the just concluded enhanced continuous voter registration, the county registered 46,794 while Kajiado had 463,389 voters in 2022 but has registered additional 55,013 votes. Samburu had 100,052 votes in the 2022 general election but gained 19418 votes.

 The late Raila defeated Ruto in all the three Maa speaking counties - a move that may explain why the Opposition parties are treating the region as a swing vote  ahead of the 2027 general election.

 In Narok, the former ODM leader garnered 159,455 amounting to 51 per cent against Ruto’s 148,310 votes which was 48 per cent of the total votes cast. In Kajiado, Raila defeated Ruto after garnering 158,556 against Ruto’s 148,449 while in Samburu, Raila got 41,737 votes against Ruto’s 28,329 votes.