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Laikipia North MP, Mathew Lempurkel of ODM party has been caught up in a war of words with URP’s nominated MP Sarah Lekorere at a public function in the constituency.
Their brawl was interpreted as supremacy battle ahead of the 2017 general election.
They were at Reteti Primary school, where Lekorere declared that she will vie for the parliamentary seat despite Lempurkel telling her that the region has never been led by a woman.
The legislators who do not see each other eye to eye sat on different tables.
Lempurkel said that it is contrary to the pastoralist communities’ tradition for a woman to lead cows, which is perceived as efforts to bar women from taking leadership positions in the area.
In response, Lekorere noted that time was long gone when women were discouraged from leading and assured that she will make sure she clinches the seat to demystify the myth.
The two, speaking in Maasai dialect, accused each other of smear campaigns with Lekorere calling on the electorate to shun electing leaders who are out to discredit women.
Lekorere, who was initially in ODM before joining the Jubilee coalition prior to 2013 elections, urged all residents to rally behind the government.
She cited the development projects such as electrification and the expected 25 kilometers of tarmac from Naibor to Il Polei trading center.
She noted it is the high time that the region joined the government.
