Narok Senator Ledama Olekina found himself in a tight spot on Wednesday, after expressing controversial Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) plans for the country, which many anti-BBI politicians interpreted as tribal.
Speaking during a heated interview on Citizen TV‘s JKL Show, alongside Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Ledama revealed that one of his key plans under the BBI was to ensure that land in Maasai dominated areas was not assigned ownership to individuals from other ethnicities.
”The proposal that I am going to present to the BBI taskforce…Maasai land should be reserved for Maasai land…There is no way you can tell me that Maasais whose lifestyle is pastoral and agriculture-based…who keep domestic animals, can be able to keep them in one acre,” Ledama explained.
Ledama Olekina on the proposals and part of the resolutions he is going to present to the BBI task-force #JKLive pic.twitter.com/EuTXxSd54q
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 19, 2020
Probed on what he was insinuating, Ledama asserted that under his proposal, visitors would be free to acquire land in Maasai-land, but not to dictate what to do with the land.
”Let me put it this way. If senator Cheruiyot comes and buys land, if that land is agricultural land, it remains agricultural land, he cannot subdivide and bring his tribesmen, about 100 of them,” the legislator expounded, to the shock of host Jeff Koinange and Cheruiyot.
The anti-BBI team under the deputy president William Ruto-allied Tangatanga faction was quick to call out the senator, noting that his remarks meant that he did not want people from other tribes to settle in the concerned areas, despite citizens having the freedom of movement under the Constitution.
Taking to social media, Elgeyo-Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen, mocked the senator for his retrogressive way of thinking, wondering how Ledama was considered a leader in the first place.
Dennis Itumbi, another key Tangatanga player, took the chance to castigate the BBI process, noting that Ledama’s words meant that there were plans to kick out non-Maasais from Maasai-land.
Waoow tonight we know Kikuyus and Kalenjins must leave 'Maa' speaking counties and Senator @ledamalekina the right hand man of @RailaOdinga even has a proposal to that effect for BBI. Bring on the Referendum! Well done senator @Aaroncheruiyot #JKLive
— Dennis Itumbi, HSC (@OleItumbi) February 19, 2020
Earlier on Wednesday, the Tangatanga group had accused ODM leader Raila Odinga and Maasai leaders of kicking non-Maasai politicians out of a BBI rally preparation meeting.
Here are reactions from other Kenyans on the discussion:
