The family of the late William Ole Ntimama has officially handed over the leadership mantle to his second born son Timothy Tempes.
This was after the first-born son Amos Sipoi Ntimama declined the political position and handed it over to his brother.
Ntimama, a former heritage minister and Narok North Member of Parliament died four years ago leaving a gap in leadership as the community still seeks to find a spokesperson.
The clergy and the maasai elders gathered at the family home compound in Motonyi area, a few kilometers from Narok town, on Sunday in a bid to bless Tempes to compete in the political space.
According to Tempes, the family has been debating for the last few years on who will represent them in the political space adding that finally a decision was reached when his elder brother handed over the mantle to him.
Tempes said that he will be running for the Narok North Member of parliament seat that his father occupied for over twenty years.
“I will be following in my father’s footsteps of advocating for the family’s unity. Just like my father united the Maa speaking counties, I will also endeavor to do so,” said an emotional Tempes.
The aspiring Member of Parliament added that the family is in full support of the handshake and the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) that was initiated by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
“The government has played a major role in protecting the Maasai Mau forest and constructing major roads in the county. My family fully supports the president,” he reiterated.
The family spokesperson Moses Ole Kitamoni said the family would like to keep Ntimama’s name in historical records by having his sons take over from where he left.
He said the family felt that the second born son of Ntimama had the drive to be a leader just like his late father who managed to unite the entire Maasai community.
“We have had a lot of consultation and the decision was finally made by the elders. The seat is normally reserved for the first born son, but in this case, the first born son doesn’t have interest in politics,” said Ole Kitmoni.
Before his demise, the late William Ole Ntimama called on the country’s leadership including president Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga to embrace dialogue and unite the country as per the constitution.
Tempes will be competing with the current Narok North Member of parliament Moitalel Ole Kenta who managed to beat the late William Ntimama in 2013 general elections.
By Ann Salaton
