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The Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta addresses a mammoth crowd during a 'Maa Nation' declaration meeting on December 29, 2021.
Richard Moitalel ole Kenta, who on Thursday replaced Jeremiah Kioni as Secretary General of former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party, is no stranger to the murky waters of Kenyan politics.
In fact, Mr Kenta, described by some as a tough and unyielding politician, has spent much of his public life walking a tightrope between fierce advocacy for his Maa community’s interests and the scrutiny of national politics.
Critics of the former MP describe him as a man easily agitated and sometimes confrontational. But his supporters argue that he is a fierce defender of the Maa community’s rights, an intellectual who refuses to be manipulated or intimidated.
"He is a fierce defender of people’s rights, and most of the time he is sincere and brutally honest when dealing with issues. He is not easily compromised for political gain. That is why he has for long been a vocal defender of the Maasai community’s land rights and has been a key figure in campaigns related to the conservation of the Mau Forest," said Mr Samuel Ole Saitai, a Narok resident.
Saitabao ole Kanchory, who was the Azimio La Umoja chief agent in the 2022 presidential elections, said: "Great move by the Jubilee Party. Moitalel Ole Kenta, who now becomes the highest-ranking Maa in any political formation, is a visionary leader and a man of great integrity. His love for his people, the Maa, and the nation is well known. With Kenta at the helm, Jubilee is definitely on the right track."
Mr Joshua ole Kuluo, one of Mr Kenta's critics, said: "He is easily agitated and at times appears confrontational. We have seen in the past how he handled issues not favouring him."
National Prominence
Former Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta.
The former parliamentarian vied for the Narok County gubernatorial seat in 2022 but lost to Patrick ole Ntutu.
He moved to court to contest Mr Ntutu's win but later withdrew the election petition, citing a decision taken by the Maasai Council of Elders, the clergy, and opinion leaders in the county.
His latest appointment as a top Jubilee Party official has thrust him back into the centre of Kenya’s political conversation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“He brings to the party a wealth of experience in elective politics, legal expertise, strategic management, and institutional governance,” a statement from the Jubilee Party read.
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Born in 1962, Mr Kenta is not a political novice parachuted into the limelight by elite politicians. He rose from modest rural beginnings to national prominence through education and determination.
He has faced his fair share of controversy, sometimes appearing visibly agitated on camera, particularly when discussing issues affecting his Maa community, such as land rights.
According to information available on the Parliamentary website, he began his education at Eor Enkitok Primary School before proceeding to Kilgoris Secondary School, where he completed his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in 1983.
After finishing his A-levels at Kijabe High School, he joined the University of Nairobi, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1990. A year later, after training at the Kenya School of Law, he was admitted to the Bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
Mr Kenta entered Parliament in 2013 as the Member of Parliament for Narok North on then President Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA ticket, a position he held for two consecutive terms until 2022.
Maa community defender
During that decade, he built a reputation as a vocal and often combative defender of Maa community interests, particularly concerning land, conservation, and historical marginalisation.
His name gained national prominence during the debates surrounding the Mau Forest evictions when the government attempted to reclaim the water tower.
Mr Kenta became one of the most vocal leaders in calling for the protection of the forest, noting that the move was not politically motivated.
"The Maasai community would like to oppose the suggestion to maintain the status quo with regard to invalid titles issued in the extension of five group ranches beyond their adjudicated boundaries into the Maasai Mau Forest," Mr Kenta said in a petition to the then Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku, copied to the National Land Commission, Lands Cabinet Secretary, and Attorney General Githu Muigai.
Mr Kenta argued that the titles issued after the subdivision of the Mau Forest land were null and void since they were riddled with illegalities and irregularities.
Narok North MP Mr Moitalel ole Kenta addressing residents of Ntulele in Narok East constituency on June 17,2022.
"The people of Narok County find such a proposal to be repugnant to justice and find no sound argument for such action," he said.
As an MP, Mr Kenta’s achievements include expanding access to bursaries for needy students, advocating for improved road networks in Narok North, and persistently pressing government agencies for compensation over human-wildlife conflict.
Perhaps this reputation influenced his decision to run in the 2022 Narok gubernatorial race on an ODM ticket after serving two terms in Parliament. During the campaigns against eventual winner Patrick ole Ntutu, he positioned himself as a champion of devolution who understood both grassroots struggles and national power.
The defeat in the gubernatorial race was a significant electoral setback for a man who had become a key political figure beyond Narok County. He would later come out to deny rumours that he planned to defect from ODM.
His appointment as Jubilee Party Secretary General is viewed by his supporters as recognition of his organisational skills, ideological clarity, and grassroots mobilisation ability.
The party noted that he is “widely respected for his principled leadership, firm stance against corruption, and consistent advocacy for the protection of the Mau Forest ecosystem.”
According to Jubilee, Mr Kenta assumes the role at a critical moment as the party seeks to consolidate its base and expand its national footprint.
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