Scramble for Nakuru as new law become
By OUR TEAM
EVEN as Kenyans prepare for the implementation of a new constitution, cold wars and bickering over the control of Kenya’s fourth largest urban centre-Nakuru, seem to be boiling over. We can authoritatively report that this fact indeed is the next big issue that is set to be a centre stage of political calculations in the region that is deemed as most potential economically.
The new law creates 47 counties in the country under a devolved government system that Kenyans hope will bring resources closer to them. This new development will see the vast Rift valley province split into at least 15 counties. These include;
Nakuru,Turkana,West Pokot, Uasin Gishu,Elgeyo-Marakwet,Kajiado,
Nakuru County that has a cosmopolitan population of about 4,000,000 people according to the recently announced national census results is expected to comprise of; Rongai, Njoro, Naivasha, Kuresoi, Molo, Subukia and Nakuru town. According to political analysts, most of these areas however are dominated by non-Kalenjin ethnic communities a fact that is the cause of the controversy being agitated by a section of political leaders in the region.
The region is considered a political hot bed considering its past experiences of ethnic tensions. Although Nakuru County is cosmopolitan with members of other ethnic communities like Luhya,Gusii,Luo,Kamba,Maasai,
A group of leaders claim that Nakuru being a home town of the native Kalenjin ethnic community will be controlled by other people whom they refer to as ‘outsiders’. Recently KANU vice- chair Gideon Moi let the cat out of the bag when he warned that Kalenjin leaders would not watch in silence as the community was being shortchanged.
He claimed that by “outsiders taking over” the control of Nakuru town would mean taking over the entire Rift valley region- tending to mean the dominant Kikuyu ethnic community members who control a large portion of business investments in the town.
According to the politician, also son to the former president Daniel Moi, Nakuru town has been the historical headquarters of Rift Valley and indigenous communities should not be sidelined. “We will not sit back watching Nakuru being grabbed”. He said at a recent rally in Bomet.
This comes however in the wake of revelations by the media that indeed professionals, businessmen and politicians drawn from the Kikuyu ethnic community in Nakuru region were making spirited strategies on how to sponsor members of their ethnic community as to bag all political seats in the county come the 2012 elections.
Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot however wants a compromise deal by Nakuru county leaders to be made so as key county seats be shared by the different communities in the region to avoid the fear that minority groups would feel locked out of leadership. He said that though democracy allowed for the simple majority, the notion would be manipulated to sideline minority groups in the region by voting in leaders from one ethnic community.
Rongai MP Luka Kigen said;Minority communities are talking and although democracy cannot be legislated, voting along tribal lines cannot be wished away”
Menengai
Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto on the other hand says that amendments should be made on the new laws to avoid historical injustices on land issues. According to him, the community would not tolerate the “grabbing” of Nakuru.
He says the Interim Independent Electoral Commissioniiec(IIEC) should move fast to amend the boundaries of Nakuru in line with historical realities. The MP says Nakuru town should be split into two-Nakuru East and Nakuru West to accommodate the interests of different communities.
“Those who created Nakuru County did not consider historical issues like the Menengai hill which is named after a Kalenjin clan of the Tugen community. This means that historically Nakuru belonged to the Kalenjin and it is unfair for the community to be locked out from the town’s resources” He said.
History
According to political pundits, the bawl over Nakuru is a far reaching political out cry by some big –wigs in the region. Looking far back in recent political history of the country, pundits say the region emerges out of a grand unsung pact between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin elite in a bid to control the politics of the country.
To contain power, the founding president of Kenya,Jomo Kenyatta made Moi his VP and that meant the end of KADU and the marginalization of the Luo political uprising. This witnessed mass movement into the region by the Agikuyu in the 1960’s onwards.
Surprisingly many pieces of land in the region were dished out to Kenyatta’s lieutenants who later sold them to their kin and followers from central Kenya at low prices. One of them was the late former post -colonial powerful politician Kiheka Kimani who owned vast pieces of land in Njoro,Molo,Naivasha,and Subukia.
Because of this Kiheka became a darling of his followers-the peasants whom he had helped secure land. He is the only politician in the country who successfully managed to be a Member of Parliament in more than two constituencies. He was once MP for Nakuru North that comprised of the current Rongai and Subukia constituencies, Molo and Naivasha. This was made possible by his popularity in the areas over the dishing out of land to poor Kikuyu tribesmen under small co-operatives known as Ngwataniro.
When Moi assumed power, he too used land to bargain power and to contain the Kalenjin identity in the country. The region was hence declared a total KANU zone. Those who were loyal to him were rewarded with chunks of land in Rift Valley to an extend of encroachments on gazetted areas like the Mau Complex and other public lands.
Dissenting voices were ruthlessly crushed as to those who owned property in the region especially in Nakuru town. The infamous land clashes in the region that begun in the early 1990’s, according to political pundits were politically instigated as the KANU government sought to hold on to power.
New law
The Narok North MP Wiliam Ole Ntimama says that the creation of counties in Rift valley has ended the large ethnic hegemony in the region. He believes that those who used power to amass wealth in the region were the most disturbed by the passing of the new constitution.
He says this will dramatically weaken the political bargaining powers of local big boys of politics. Ntimama believes that threats by some Rift valley leaders are just signs of a dying horse but do not hold any water. He said that the leaders should be arrested and prosecuted for inciting members of their community against other Kenyans.
Development
Nakuru county is expected to be one of the most coveted county in terms of development as the new constitution of devolved government takes shape. According to economic analysts, Nakuru County is expected to lead as it has huge potentials in agriculture, tourism, industry and business.
Already foreign investors led by Chinese businesspersons are piloting the county with full eyes open on business investment opportunities. The setting up of a battery manufacturing plant Xiang Hui International awaiting clearance by the government is one-step forward. According to the director of the industry Mr.Chen Leija, the plant is expected to create over 200 jobs on its first operation.
Three ultra modern hotels and a Casino owned by the Chinese are already in the offing in the town and are expected to boost the number of Chinese business and tourists in Nakuru.
The Chinese are dominant in the motorcycle transport sector in the sale of motorbikes and spare parts at low prices a fact that has improved the local transport sector and the economy as many youth have been employed.
The motorbike transport system is also free-fuel costly and enables improved transport in local rural areas where no PSV reach or due to poor road networks.
“There are many Chinese investors in Nakuru and many more will come as they have realized an opportunity and a low cost of investment,” said a local Chinese businessperson.
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