This is a guest post by Kennedy Mugera.
You might remember him from his short stint as Cabinet Secretary for interior and Coordination of National Government. A man with a humble demeanor, Ole lenku oversaw Kenya’s Interior Ministry during one of the most trying periods for Kenya’s internal security in recent history.
Why it all ended? Perhaps his demeanor was abit too soft spoken to tackle the ever aggressive issue of security. Unlike his predecessors from Kajiado County who also served in the security docket, such as George Saitoti and Katoo Ole Metito, his tenure as Cabinet Secretary was met by increased acts of terrorism culminating in the Westgate attack, which left 69 dead and scores of people injured. During his tenure, Ole Lenku initiated security reforms within the police service, dealing with disruptive vices such as corruption, inadequate management and a general tendency to resist reform.
A thousand miles away from what most Kenyans are used to, critics would say Lenku perhaps wasn’t the right fit to play the role of Authoritative figure head. Coming from a background in corporate sector management of luxury resorts such as the Serena Hotels and Utalii College, will he be able to conjure up a fitting recipe for success in Kajiado?
This wouldn’t be the first time he’s tried his hand in politics. In 2003, following the death of Kajiado South Member of Parliament Geoffrey Mepukori Parpai, Ole Lenku vied for the seat on the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) ticket, but lost the nomination to Katoo Ole Metito.
Ole Lenku, who is a son of prominent Maasai chief Lenku Ole Mpaa Kapei, who was a senior chief in Kajiado South, reputedly one of the wealthiest Maasai leaders, is tipped to inherit the mantle of community’s spokesperson, held by William Ole Ntimama.
Capitalizing on the publicity he got during his time as CS, lenku has recently expressed his interest to vie for the position of Governor in his home County of Kajiado.
Speaking at a Maasai community meeting in Kajiado West, “I will run for the county’s top seat because our people need a more development conscious leadership.” He said, offering the current Safaricom surveillance System in place as a justification of his skill in leadership.
Ole Lenku went ahead to make his intentions to run on a Jubilee Party ticket clear, in the presence of both Cord and Jubilee leaders from the region, who were also in attendance. Also in attendance was current Kajiado Governor Dr. David K. Nkedianye.