By Ben Leshau
Olposimoru Ward residents heaved a sigh of relief when they witnessed two bitter political rivals reconcile and embrace each other in a “handshake” after over one year of court battles.
The rivalry between area MCA Kikaet ole Kuyo (ODM) and his close rival and predecessor Wilson Masinkonte (Jubilee) put aside their differences barely a week after a Narok High court upheld the MCA’s victory after a successful appeal against earlier ruling.
The political rivalry between the two politicians had posed a security threats as the supporters of the two camps have been engaging in clashes which resulted in torching of the former MCA’s house worth Sh20 million.
The tussle of political supremacy started after Masikonte who is also former Majority Leader moved to court challenging his successor’s victory accusing him of using alleged witchcraft to win the hotly contested seat.
In the August 8, 2017 poll, the ODM MCA trounced his Jubilee counterpart by garnering 3,521 against 2,603 where he was declared the winner.
Narok County Commissioner George Natembeya who was the “chief mediator” during the handshake hailed the two leaders for agreeing to foster peace and asked them to restrain their supporters against further divisions in the name of political settling scores.
Uniting the two leaders did not, however, come without difficulties as a section of Masikonte’s supporters armed with rungus stormed out of the meeting but were later calmed and agreed to support the new-found unity between their leaders.
“You two should know that the economy and peace in this area depends on you. The court made its ruling and all of you should respect it. Now work together and unite the people,” said Natembeya.
Natembeya reminded the residents that the economy of the area depended on them and not the politicians and if they continued with the divisive politics their livelihoods would be affected negatively.
Area MCA Kikaet ole Kuyo asked the residents to unite for the sake of development, adding that his differences with his predecessor should not cause differences in the entire ward.
“We have to work together because God put us together. There is no need of insulting others just because you differ politically. From today we are burying our differences for the sake of harmony,” stated Kuyo.
Masikonte on the other hand announced that would drop his intentions of appealing the high court ruling in Court of Appeal and instead would back Kuyo to meet his development agenda.