Orengo, Kenya Kwanza leaders clash at Maasai leader Harun Lempaka’s funeral

The funeral of Maasai elder and former land rights activist Harun Lempaka in Kutenoi Village, Narok South, on Friday turned into a political battleground as leaders from both the opposition and the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition traded barbs over the 2027 electoral contest.

What began as a solemn ceremony to honour the life and legacy of the late Harun Lempaka, a revered Maasai leader and former land rights campaigner, quickly evolved into a platform for political contestation, with leaders allied to both the opposition and the ruling coalition using the occasion to advance competing political narratives.

Siaya Governor James Orengo, who led opposition leaders in paying tribute to the late Lempaka, described him as a fearless defender of the Maa community.

Orengo asserted that he is the legitimate ODM party leader backing the now-popular Linda Mwananchi movement, while maintaining that the opposition remains united and focused on holding the government accountable.

"I want to say here, for the people of Narok to know, I'm the current de facto party leader of the party known as ODM. Msisikize mambo ya wale wengine, na tuko kwa vuguvugu ambayo inaitwa Linda Mwananchi. We in Linda Mwananchi are in a one-term movement and by the time we come back here in August, there will be a new government and a new dispensation,” said Orengo.

The governor also referenced the recent parliamentary vote against the Finance Bill as he stressed that prospects for political change in 2027 remain alive, insisting that discussions around a one-term presidency should not be dismissed.

"Na unajua jana Linda Mwananchi wabunge wetu wote said no to the Finance Bill. They said no to that Finance Bill. I want to tell you, I hear someone saying ni lazima muwe kwa serikali. I'm the one who knows about being in government. Being in government does not guarantee you, particularly the Maasai. What matters is that you must fight for your rights. Governments are very dangerous things. The Maasai are likely to be the minority in government, especially Narok and Kajiado,” he said.

Leaders allied to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) were quick to push back against the opposition's assertions, using the platform to defend the government's development agenda.

They pointed to ongoing infrastructure and economic projects in Narok County as evidence of progress under the current administration, arguing that development, and not political rhetoric, should remain the focus.

"Ukikuja kutuambia Linda Kenya, sijui linda nini, tutakutana kwa debe, na debe ndiyo itaamua, wananchi ndiyo wataamua,” Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu stated.

"Katika serikali ya Kenya Kwanza, tumeona maendeleo. Ya kwanza ni Tulele Market. Si mmeona tumefungua juzi na Rais? Si wote tunasema two-term? Si tumeona maendeleo,” Bomet Woman Representative Linet Chepkorir added.

Other leaders present also paid tribute to the late Lempaka, remembering him as a unifying figure who championed the rights of marginalised communities.