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| Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu |
Narok County’s recent Narok Town Ward by-election has exposed deep divisions within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ranks, with the focus turning sharply on Governor Patrick Ntutu’s leadership style.
According to Narok UDA MCA for Ololmasani Ward, Kipkoech Tembur, Governor Ntutu transformed the campaign into a personal project, sidelining county party stakeholders and ignoring the voices of local UDA leaders.
He alleged that Ntutu relied heavily on money and coercion to drive his preferred outcomes.
Reports indicate that he pressured several candidates to step down in favor of his project, operating under the assumption that financial influence and intimidation could replace genuine leadership and the trust of the electorate.
However, these strategies did not yield the intended results. Just two weeks before the by-election, Governor Ntutu reportedly rushed back to other UDA leaders in the county seeking reinforcement and support.
By then, party insiders say, the damage had already been done, with local leaders and residents largely sidelined from meaningful engagement in the process.
Despite Ntutu’s interventions, the electorate in Narok Town Ward delivered a decisive message.
By overwhelmingly voting for Douglas Masikonde, the candidate supported by the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, residents demonstrated that their loyalty was not to individual political figures imposing control, but to leaders whose style they trust.
In a his statement, MCA Tembur noted that the election was more than just a regular vote. It represented a rebuke to what UDA members describe as corruption, arrogance, and impunity that have taken root under Governor Ntutu’s watch.
“Mene Mene Tekel,” Tembur said, quoting the biblical phrase, highlighting that the governor’s actions had been weighed by the people, who are no longer willing to tolerate the plundering of public resources.
The by-election results, according to party insiders, are a clear reflection of public sentiment.
While there is no indication of discontent with UDA as a party or with the President, the residents of Narok Town Ward made it evident that Governor Ntutu’s leadership style is at odds with their expectations.
The election served as both a warning and a vote of no confidence in leadership perceived as exploitative and coercive.
Douglas Masikonde’s victory, therefore, is seen as a triumph of voter determination and a signal of the electorate’s desire for transparency, accountability, and responsible governance.
His election is being welcomed as a chance to restore trust in local leadership and ensure that public resources are managed in the interest of the community rather than personal agendas.
For UDA members in Narok County, the by-election has underscored the consequences of sidelining local voices and relying on coercion rather than consensus.
As Tembur emphasized, the people have spoken clearly: Narok Town will no longer tolerate corruption and mismanagement, and leaders must respond to the call for integrity, fairness, and accountability.
