The succession of Katoo Ole Metito as Kajiado South MP is in top gear as candidates now angle for the seat left vacant following the MP’s ambition to become Kajiado Governor.
The MP who is openly financing Jonathan Meijo from his Ilmolelian sub-clan of the Odomong’i clan to succeed him, is now the UDA Candidate.
The vacant position has attracted many aspirants,but Hot News has independently confirmed that Daniel Nina Livondo, who run for Governor in 2013 and 2017 , is now a front runner courtesy of his Orokiteng clan votes.
It is not the populous Orokiteng votes only that have made Livondo rise above others, but it is the attraction of the crucial Kikuyu immigrants votes that has immensely boosted his bid for the seat.
Historically, Kajiado South MP race has been determined by the swing vote of the Kikuyu community ,( and lately the Kamba Community votes), a reality that Katoo Ole Metito has fully exploited for the 19 years he served as area MP.
In 2002 elections, the late Cabinet Minister Geoffrey Parpai won the seat with a DP ticket,amassing all the available Kikuyu votes in the Constituency that is regarded the food basket of Kajiado County.Parpai was a close ally of former President Mwai Kibaki and was made minister when Kibaki took power.
There are more than 10,000 registered Kikuyu voters in the Constituency, most of whom farm or trade in agriculture, especially in Kimana Imbirikani Eselenkei and Rombo Wards.
It is now crystal clear that Livondo, nicknamed this for his generosity and social interactions with local communities, is increasingly inheriting Metito’s Kikuyu voting base.
Kikuyu voters now say Livondo assures them of CONTINUITY as he exhibits similar character traits with Metito; Harmless and Non-threatening.
Livondo, whose base is Kimana Ward, has endeared himself to the Kikuyu community by being a patron of very key social groups such as Ilankatok group (I lasit, Nkama and L oitokitok) where he is patron.
Livondo is also patron of Kimana Family, a group of non- native communities who live,work and do business in Kimana town and are said to be bankrolling his local campaigns.
Perhaps,Livondo’s biggest score among the Kikuyus is how he helped them settle in the Constituency through his land reforms that saw Kimana Tikondo Group Ranch divided and titles given to members. The original group ranch owners sold land to immigrants thus making Kimana town overtake Oloitokitok in new settlements and growth.
His role in the settlement of Kikuyu immigrants in the Constituency who have been a pillar to Mr Metito since 2003 and who have now declared they have shifted to him, makes Livondo a front runner in the race to replace Metito as MP.
Only time will tell!