Narok Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has said his quest for a Maa political party is unstoppable.
Lenku announced during Mashujaa Day in Kajiado that any intimidation from any quarter against his will shall be met with powerful resistance.
Without naming anyone, Lenku said the Maa community must play frontline politics like the other tribes who have their political parties in the country.
“We should not be relegated to play second fiddle every other year we have general elections. We want to negotiate with other political parties about what our people should gain after elections,” said Lenku.
Although Lenku did not name anyone in relation to his fear of intimidation, State House Comptroller Katoo ole Metito, while receiving Jubilee Party defectors at the home of former Kajiado West MP Moses Sakuda, told Lenku to drop his idea of forming a “village” party.
"It is not the first time we have seen this, because one of us once formed a Maa party and it failed terribly,” Metito said.
Metito said former PS Prof James Ole Kiyiapi formed ‘The Restore and Build Kenya Party’ when he wanted to be Kenya’s fourth President but the bid failed.
He said the party only managed to get a councilor, not from the Maa region but in Taita Taveta.
"Those dreaming of forming a Maa party should think twice because the UDA party is a unifying political conveyor belt for the entire country. That village party will not go anywhere," Metito said.
Lenku, a self-declared Maa spokesman, sought the blessings of MPs and senators who fell out with Metito within UDA to defend him.
They are senators Peris Tobiko, Kanar Seki, MP Onesmus Ngogoyo and a number of MCAs from the ruling party.
Also in support of Lenku’s formation of a Maa party are Kajiado East MP Kakuta Maimai and Kajiado South MP Samuel Sakimba.
Tobiko, Sakimba and Maimai joined Lenku in the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Mashuuru.
"Yes, even if it is a Kijiji party, we will have it. We will not allow anyone to scare us. This is unstoppable,” Lenku said on Friday.
The governor said the unity of the Maa people will see the community move from playing second fiddle to the frontlines of leadership in the country.
Lenku took time to recognise Maa leaders who made a mark during their time to move the community to be at par with others in the country.
“We shall no longer be recognising only those who have left this world. Moving forward, we shall also appreciate those among us who did great things,” Lenku said.
Today, he said, the world of academia continues to be proud of Prof Geoffrey Moriaso Ole Maloiy, a globally renowned veterinary doctor, who set the standards in the training of Animal Physiology at the University of Nairobi.
He said that much later, Priscilla Nangurai, a veteran teacher and long-serving headteacher of AIC Boarding School in Kajiado town, came into the education space and promoted girl child education among disadvantaged school-going children who were rescued and retained in school.
Lenku directed county municipalities to consider renaming roads in Kajiado, Kitengela and Ngong after the region’s heroes and heroines.
They are the county headquarters road from Namanga Highway, Kitengela Medidac Hospital - Huduma Centre Road, Eastmart Supermarket - Kajiado Public Square Road, Full Gospel Church Road, Jua Kali- County Assembly Road, Blue Sky - Kajiado Hills School Road, Nyambene House - Public Square and Eastmart Supermarket Lane.