Maa community mourns four key leaders in five years

The Maasai community has suffered yet another major loss after the death of former Internal CS Joseph Nkaissery who passed away on Saturday morning.

In the last five years, the community has lost four key leaders who were highly regarded as elders.

Nkaissery, a vocal supporter and defender of the Jubilee government, was one of the Maa leaders who was key in voicing the needs of the Maasai community.

The CS had sought to be the Maa spokesperson early in the year but was denied the opportunity on grounds that he failed to deliver the Kajiado Central seat to Jubilee in the March 2015 by-election after resigning for the Interior Ministry docket.

Until his death, Nkaissery had been lobbying the community to rally behind President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reelection bid

Read: Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery is dead

In 2016 September, another key leader William Ole Ntimama, who was the community's spokesperson died of natural causes in his home in Melili, NarokCounty.

Ntimama was the Narok North MP for 25 years before he retired from politics on September 14, 2013.

He also served as a minister in former President Mwai Kibaki's government.

The long-time chairman of the Narok County Council made a grand entry to parliamentary politics by ousting the then powerful minister in the Office of the President Justus Kantet ole Tipis in 1988 and became retired President Daniel Arap Moi’s stalwart in Maasai land.

Read: Former minister William ole Ntimama is dead

In the same year, 2016 December, a Veteran politician John Keen died aged 90, on Christmas day at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi where he was being treated.

Keen, even during his sickness, was able to manage his properties in Karen and Namanga, where he has more than 1,500 camels and cattle.

Read: Veteran politician John Keen dies aged 90

He once served as assistant minister during the reign of former President Daniel Moi in the 1980s.

He served as Kajiado North MP from 1969 to 1979 under Kanu before falling out with Moi over the majimbo issue.

He later joined retired President Mwai Kibaki and formed the Democratic Party which he served as Secretary General.

Another prominent Maa leader Prof George Saitoti died in 2012 in a plane crash.

Saitoti died together with his assistant Internal Security minister Orwa Ojodeh.

Four police officers also died in the crash.

The Maasai leader died in Kibiku, Ngong Forest.

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