Citizen TV presenter Jeff Koinange's JKLive on Wednesday, February 19, has left a bad taste after his guests went on a tirade that many found to be divisive.
Playing host to Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina and Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, the discussion on the anticipated BBI Rally in Narok took a turn for the worst when ole Kina weighed in with his views on land issued in the Maasai community.
"I think one of the biggest priorities for the Maasai is land-use policies. We are people who have been marginalised for a very long time. We are very hospitable and welcoming, so people come into our area, take our land and subdivide it.
"This is our land. Any visitor is welcome there to do business. But if today I go to Kiambu, I will be welcome to do business, but I cannot run for office there. If one buys agricultural land, it remains agricultural land. He cannot subdivide and bring his tribesmen or his friends there because of the scarcity of resources," he stated.
Koinange stepped in and dismissed Ole Kina's sentiments as tribalistic, a matter that Cheruiyot agreed with and warned that the path being taken by his Senate colleague was to the detriment of Kenyans.
"If you allow these kinds of conversations, you don't have to imagine where you will take us as a country. Countries like Rwanda and Somalia got to where they are due to these kinds of politics. If you hear him tell you that he cannot go to Kiambu and run for office there, he is justifying wrong," he stated.
Cheruiyot further added that in the current parliament, people from non-dominant tribes were heading their regions in true testament that politics was not about tribe but about leadership.
Cheruiyot's sentiments were echoed by other leaders who expressed their shock at the sentiments aired by Ole Kina on live TV.
"This is a dangerous talk by a people who want to instil fear in a section of the citizenry of this nation. A leader who can utter such words live on TV is dangerous. Kenya is greater and bigger than any individual. God is on the Throne, He will see Kenyans through and we shall not fight," ODM director of communications Philip Etale wrote.
"Ledama ole kina, the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, entrenches the right of every Kenyan to reside, work, conduct business and/or go to school in any part of Kenya s/he chooses. It is a fundamental right. There are no rights reserved only for the Maa people in Narok," Miguna Miguna weighed in.
"We are such a tolerant nation. I am watching my colleague Ledama Ole Kina with total shock. I can just imagine if the same logic is applied in Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Trans Nzoia, entire coast region etc then Kenya will burn. The BBI he is professing is an oxymoron," Kipchumba Murkomen added.
Video Courtesy of Citizen TV
