Maasai elders vow to block CORD's Ntulele rally

By James Mbaka

Thursday, June 26th 2014

Whether or not CORD's rally scheduled for tomorrow in Ntulele, Narok County, will take place is uncertain after elders from the Maa community swore to block it.

The Ntulele rally is part of a series of rallies the Opposition coalition has lined up to pile pressure on the Government to yield to calls for national dialogue.

But yesterday, 15 elders representing six counties where members of the Maasai community live, convened a press conference in Nairobi and declared they will do everything within their powers to ensure the meeting does not proceed.

Independence Senate member Gideon Parteneu was among the elders drawn from Narok, Kajiado, Trans Mara, Laikipia, Samburu, Baringo and Nairobi.

The elders alleged that the rallies were meant to disrupt peace in the country.

"We fully support the Government of President Uhuru Kenyatta and urge those pushing campaign agenda disguised as innocent political rallies to wait until the next general election so that they can sell their agenda and manifesto," said Rev John Ololmaitai, the chairman of the Maasai Council of Elders.

The elders said most leaders in the opposition failed to help advance the agenda of the Maasai community.

"In this regard, we caution CORD team from setting foot in Narok County with intentions of holding a public rally. We have more than 500 morans ready to block the rally," Mr Ololmaitai said.

The elders alleged that they have information of plans  to ferry youths from CORD strongholds to attend the Ntulele rally warning that such a move will only heighten tension. "We are aware CORD is planning to ferry supporters from Kisumu and their other strongholds to Narok. This would increase tension in our peace-loving county of Narok," said former Transport Licensing Board chairman Hassan ole Kamwaro.

The  elders also criticised the Opposition's Saba Saba rally planned for July 7. "Saba Saba was initially meant to push for a new Constitution," Kamwaro said.