A section of Maasai leaders have rejected calls for Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to be made the community's spokesman.

They instead endorsed Nairobi Speaker Alex ole Magelo for the post, saying he is best qualified to succeed the late William ole Ntimama.

Narok senator aspirant Ledama ole Kina, who led the group, said that Nkaissery has failed to unite Maasais.

He spoke at the weekend during the funeral of Letoya ole Magelo - father of speaker Magelo - at Olokirkirai, Narok North sub-county.

Nkaissery, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Woman representatives Soipan Kudate (Narok), Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi) among other leaders were at the funeral.

"Nkaissery is the source of all problems experienced by the Maasai. He has been fighting our leaders and the community. So, we cannot trust him to articulate issues of the community," Ledama said.

Peter Sapalan, another elder, said Magelo has been in the forefront in the fight for the community's rights.

"He has been one of the community's pillars. Whenever we are faced with problems in Narok and Kajiado, Magelo is normally with us," Sapalan said.

Nominated MCA Hellen Katangie (Nairobi) said that speaker Magelo can fit in Ntimama’s shoes.

"He is a leader with a strong stand who cannot be influenced on what to support on issues which affect the community and leaders," she said.

Hassan ole Kamwaro, Maasai council of elders national organising secretary, said the community has not settled on anybody to take up the role.

He was reacting to Oloropil MCA Dickson ole Mundet who supported Nkaissery.

"Normally, the community spokesman is not elected but his actions and development track record makes such persons qualify for the post," Kamwaro said.

Kidero said that a successful leader is one who can unite all Kenyans regardless of their political backgrounds in a bid to cultivate peace.

"I envy my speaker Magelo. He has managed Nairobi MCAs despite the ratio of 43 Cord members against 42 from Jubilee," Kidero said.

"He has done it so perfectly that it is difficult to tell who is either in Cord or Jubilee," the governor said.

Magelo avoided the topic when he rose to speak.

But recently, he said that the community has no leadership vacuum after the demise of Ntimama.

He said that the community will sit down and decide on who will succeed Ntimama without engaging in political supremacy.

"We have so many leaders. There is nothing to worry about the community leadership. The leaders are capable of advancing our interests," Magelo said.

He added: "As a community, we should always focus on the things that unite us. Even as we approach the next elections, let us remain true to the Maasai spirit – of peace and brotherhood,"

Source-The Star, Kenya