Lenku or Ledama? Maasai elders tell Ruto to choose wisely if he wants their support

President William Ruto has found himself at the center of a growing rift within the Maasai political establishment, as community elders publicly called on him to recognize Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku – not Narok Senator Ledama Olekina – as the legitimate spokesperson of the Maa community.

At a gathering held on Friday, April 18, 2025, senior Maasai elders led by their national chairperson Keleina Ole Nchoe stated unequivocally that their support for Ruto’s administration and its evolving political alliances hinges on the president’s choice between the two prominent leaders.

Nchoe affirmed their support for the Ruto-Raila Odinga post-election partnership but emphasized that it should not be channeled through Ledama, who is a close confidant of the ODM leader.

“Tunaunga rais Ruto kupatana na Raila Amollo Odinga. Sisi tunaunga mkono lakini sio kupitia kwa Ledama. Ni kupitia wazee hawa na jamii yote kwa jumla,” Nchoe said.

The statement reflects mounting concern among traditional leaders in the Maasai region over political representation, particularly in light of Ruto’s post-election working arrangement with Raila.

Senator Ledama, a close ally of Raila and a senior figure within the ODM party, has played a visible role in the ODM-UDA partnership, raising tensions among those who view Governor Lenku as the more unifying figure for the Maasai.

Richard Oloitip, another elder present at the meeting, was even more direct.

He insisted that the community was ready to support Ruto’s government if he only recognised Kajiado Governor Lenku as their spokesperson for the Maasai people and not any other person.

“Tuna mtu mmoja tu ambaye anaweza kuzungumza kwa niaba yetu, mmoja pekeake ambaye anaweza kuzungumuka na ikasemekana amezunguza – na yeye ni Lenku,” Oloitip said.

“Sisi Wamaasai tumeshikana tumeongea kama kitu kimoja. Na tunalaani kwa vikali mtu yoyote ule ambaye anatumwa ama anakuja kwa njia yake mwenyewe kuja kugawanya hii nyumba. Hii nyumba haigawiki, hii nyumba hatuwezi kubali mtu yoyote aje aingilie,” he added.

The elders’ remarks come at a delicate moment for President Ruto, who is working to solidify political stability by building broad coalitions ahead of the 2027 general election.

While Ruto’s outreach to Raila Odinga and sections of the opposition has been welcomed in some quarters, it has also introduced new power dynamics in communities where political loyalties are shaped as much by tradition as by party lines.

Both Lenku and Ledama are influential figures among the Maasai and beyond.

Lenku, a former Interior Cabinet Secretary, has served as Kajiado’s governor since 2017.

Ledama, on the other hand, is serving his second term as Narok senator and is known for his outspoken advocacy on environmental and land rights issues affecting the Maasai.

President Ruto has yet to respond publicly to the elders’ appeal, but the episode highlights the importance of carefully navigating ethnic and regional alliances in Kenyan politics, particularly in communities where traditional leadership structures remain deeply influential.

As the 2027 electoral calendar inches closer, the Maasai community’s support could be decisive.

For now, its elders have made one thing clear: in their eyes, political legitimacy begins at home.