Kitengela MCA Paul Matuyia criticizes a group of politicians from Kajiado who recently held a media briefing in Nairobi at which they claimedto be the genuine BBI proponents in the county
By Beverline Timanoi
Kajiado leaders opposed to Governor Joseph ole Lenku’s appointment as the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) coordinator in the three Maa counties have been labeled selfish and without the people’s welfare at heart.
The sentiments were made by Kitengela MCA Paul Matuyia during a clean-up exercise held in the town.“All these small groups addressing the media opposing the governor’s appointment are just selfish and lack the people’s interest at heart; we as the MCAs are behind the governor and whatever his decision over the BBI report is, we shall follow,” said Matuyia.
“Raila [Odinga] is my leader and since he is close to President [Uhuru] Kenyatta we shall follow his guidance when it comes to BBI,” added Matuyia, who was elected on an ODM ticket.
Matuyia was referring to a group of politicians from Kajiado who recently held a media briefing in Nairobi at which they claimed to be the genuine BBI proponents in the county. They included Kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko—who has expressed interest in contesting the governor’s position in 2022 — and former Kajiado governor David Nkedianye, who intends to reclaim the seat he lost toOle Lenku in 2017.
Other notable figures included former Olkejuado County Council Chairman Taraiya ole Kores and former Kajiado senator Peter ole Mositet.
There has been a tussle in Kajiado County regarding who are the bona fide members of BBI. This has left many people in the county confused.
The confusion arises from the fact that Lenku has been giving mixed signals on the issue. The governor was largely thought to belong to the TangaTanga group allied to Deputy President William Ruto, who has not fully embraced the BBI as espoused by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Lenku’s communication chief, Billy Muiruri, told Kajiado Star that the governor has ditched TangaTanga and has joined the rival Kieleweke faction within Jubilee, which is opposed to Ruto.
“Governor Lenku has always been an ardent supporter of the popular handshake between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga,” said Muiruri.
On Tuesday, January 28, Matuyia joined Lenku in a delegation that paid a courtesy call on Odinga in his Upper Hill offices. They were in the company of ODM nominated Senator Judith Pareno, Kajiado North MP Joseph Manje, and Kajiado West MP George Sunkuyia.
Others in attendance included Ken Aramat (Narok East), Moitalel ole Kenta (Narok North) and Gabriel Tongoyo (Narok West).
The meeting with Odinga was swiftly followed by another meeting on Wednesday January 29 at Tumaini Resort in Isinya, which brought together Lenku, Narok Governor Samuel Tunai, and a host of MPs from the two counties to deliberate on how BBI activities will be carried out.
Lenku’s surprise embrace of BBI has the effect of forcing the Tobiko/Nkedianye group back to the drawing board, seeing as he appears to have stolen their thunder.
It remains to be seen how the two camps will be accommodated inside BBI, as they have competing ambitions for 2022.
