31/12/2025
๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ธ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฟ๐ธ๐ผ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐๐ด๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐บ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐.
The political landscape of Kajiado County witnessed a significant tremor this week as Governor Joseph Ole Lenku made a high-profile appearance at a massive thanksgiving ceremony in Purko. Despite being a prominent member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and having secured his seat through the party ticket, Lenku raised eyebrows by joining the top brass of the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) to celebrate Simon Sanare, the DCP candidate in the recently concluded Purko by-elections.
The Governor was seen in close consultation with key National Executive Committee (NEC) members of the DCP, including Kajiado Senator Samuel Seki, Daniel Kanchori, and the man of the hour, Simon Sanare. This public display of camaraderie with a rival political outfit has sent ripples through the local political establishment, further complicating the narrative of Lenkuโs partisan allegiances. Observers noted that the Governor appeared entirely at home among the DCP leadership, fueling intense speculation about a potential shift in his political trajectory or a calculated effort to bridge the divide between opposing factions.
This latest move adds to a growing list of actions that have left both allies and critics questioning where Lenkuโs true loyalties lie. While he remains a member of ODM, the Governor has consistently positioned himself as a close ally of President William Ruto, often advocating for a collaborative relationship with the Kenya Kwanza administration. This "foot in both camps" strategy has created a sense of political ambiguity that continues to keep the electorate and party stakeholders in a state of confusion regarding his long-term strategy ahead of future electoral cycles.
The Purko event comes on the heels of a tense confrontation just twenty-four hours prior, when the Governor was reportedly blocked from accessing the Kibiko lands. The incident sparked a flurry of debate across the county, with various opinion leaders and security observers suggesting that the Governorโs intended visit was aimed at inciting local residents over ongoing land disputes. While Lenkuโs supporters viewed the blockade as an unfair restriction on his freedom of movement, detractors pointed to the timing of the visit as a sign of a leader attempting to consolidate influence through populist rhetoric.
As the dust settles on the Purko thanksgiving, the conversation in Kajiado remains centered on Governor Lenkuโs next move. By aligning himself with DCP luminaries like Senator Seki and Mr. Kanchori, Lenku has demonstrated a willingness to transcend party lines, though whether this leads to a formal defection or remains a tactical maneuver for regional dominance remains to be seen. For now, the Governor continues to navigate a complex political path, balancing his official party membership against his burgeoning ties with the national government and local opposition figures.
