The Talai Council of Elders have launched a fresh bid to have President William Ruto and Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi strike a political deal for the sake of Kalenjin unity and control of Rift Valley votes.
The elders, descendants of Nandi’s legendary spiritual leader Koitaleel Samoei, want President Ruto to include political old guards, including the younger Moi, in his broad-based administration as part of the strategy to consolidate Rift Valley votes and secure a second term in office.
“We do not want any of the Kalenjin leaders to be left out of this government. President Ruto needs to reconcile with Gideon and include him in his administration,” said Christopher Koyogi, noting that they are ready to pilot the reconciliation.
Other seasoned Kalenjin leaders they want included in the broad-based government include former Ministers Henry Kosgei, Dr Sally Kosgey and Kipruto Kirwa, among others, in a move aimed at ensuring that the Kalenjin community remain united ahead of the next General Election.
“Our objective is the unity of the Kalenjin community, which can only be attained if we reconcile and work together. President Ruto stand to benefit from the seasoned politicians in terms of leadership skills and retain the presidency in the next General Election,” added Mr Koyogi, former council Vice Chairman.
He said the elders would reach out to President Ruto and the former Baringo Senator in their reconciliation effort to strengthen Kalenjin's unity.
President William Ruto (left) and former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The younger Moi has dismissed calls in the past to have a political deal with the current administration, noting that all that he needs is a handshake with the people of Baringo.
“I do not need a handshake. I only need a handshake with the people of Baringo. When you are with the people, everything falls into place automatically,” Mr Moi said while responding to calls from leaders from Baringo to strike a political deal with President Ruto.
The genesis of the frosty relationship between President Ruto and former Baringo senator can be traced to the push to inherit the late President Daniel Arap Moi’s political mantle in Rift Valley and the subsequent succession politics in the region.
While Dr Ruto succeeded Uhuru Kenyatta in becoming the country’s fifth Head of State, Gideon staggered as an expected successor of his father’s mantle to Kalenjin leadership.
But the Talai elders are out to end the acrimony between the two leaders and strengthen the Kalenjin unity ahead of the next General Election.
“The leaders need to give direction to the younger generation by remaining united and championing the socio-economic and political interests of our community,” said Rev Cannon James Bassy, the national Chairman of the elders’ council.
The Talai clan have special spiritual recognition among the Kalenjin community and has crowned top Kenyan leaders, including founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Others are Presidents the late Daniel Arap Moi, the late Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta and the current President William Ruto.
Others are the country’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Opposition leader Raila Odinga , among other respected leaders.
The Talai clan of the Nandi, Kipsigis and Tugen a long been feared by the rest of the community.
The blessing and crowning of President Ruto by the Talai elders played a key role in becoming a Kalenjin kingpin and taking over power from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The elders have entered a truce that ended 50 years of rivalry and accusations that the spiritual leaders had commercialized coronation ceremonies.
“We have resolved to bury our differences and all elders will be consulted before any coronation event is performed,” said Mr Koyogi.
He explained that the community’s leadership regalia is sacred and elders will adhere to due procedures in offering spiritual blessings and performing crowning events.
“We are going to have a harmonized system on offering blessings and how the treasures can be handed over from one leader to the next,” said Mr Koyogi.
The traditional possessions handed by the elders during coronations include Sambut, which is for inclusive leadership, the Kuutwet and rungut for authority and the sharit for guidance.
Culturally, no one can claim the treasures handed over to a leader during coronation until he completes his term.
