Clan split over bid to crown Raila

By TOM MATOKE
Posted  Thursday, August 4  2011 at  22:36

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Controversy has erupted after a section of Koitalel Samoei clan leaders denounced plans to crown Prime Minister Raila Odinga a Nandi elder in which he would be given the leadership baton to seek the presidency in 2012.

The PM was last month forced to cancel two planned visits to Kapsisiywa location in Nandi Central District where a ceremony was to be conducted to crown him a Nandi elder and give leadership blessings after differences erupted between members of Talai clan who were to host him.

But Thursday, a day-long crisis meeting at Kapsisiywa trading centre and attended by clan leaders of the great Nandi Laibon resolved to expel three officials who had been organising for PM and “warned the PM against forcing his way to the Kapsisiywa for the crowning ceremony.”

Leaders expelled

Those expelled are Talaai clan secretary Moses Saina, brother of the late assistant minister William Saina, and former councillor Christopher Koyogi and pastor Kipchoge Chomu who were accused of inviting the PM without the mandate of Talai clan.

A stormy meeting chaired by the chairman of Talaai council of elder, Mzee John Tuwei, and area councillor David Sulo and attended by 100 members from the clan resolved that PM’s visit to Nandi be put off until further consultations.

They agreed to boycott another planned visit by the PM next week saying important traditional regalia from Talai clan would not be given out easily.

But another group of elders from the same Talaai clan led by former councillor Christopher Koyogi dismissed yesterday’s meeting and asked the PM to ignore the “noise makers” and visit Kapsisiywa without fear.

Said Koyogi: “The Talai clan will receive and make PM Odinga a Nandi Elder and give him the leadership baton and prepare him for presidency to succeed President Mwai Kibaki in 2012.”