Kajiado County Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has stepped in to help a local journalist who was ordered by a court to pay Ksh16 million to State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito after publishing a social media post that Metito described as defamatory.
Speaking to the media outside his office on Wednesday Ole Lenku said the journalist and his family had been unable to raise the amount and had resorted to selling land in a desperate bid to settle the fine. Even after selling land the family still could not raise enough money prompting them to seek help from the county government.
Ole Lenku announced that a public fundraising event has been scheduled for Friday May 29 and confirmed that preparations were already underway. Community groups had already begun contributing goats sheep and money toward the cause.
“We will stand with this family and this young man to show that the path taken is not in line with our traditions,” the governor said. He also asked the family to stop selling their land assuring them that the county would mobilise public support to settle the court-ordered fine.
The governor argued that the punishment violated Maasai traditions governing how disputes between elders and younger people should be resolved within the community.
Metito however responded swiftly to the planned harambee clarifying that any funds raised would not go into his personal pocket but would be deposited directly with the court. He added that he intends to channel the entire amount toward community projects addressing critical gaps in health water supply and basic education in Kajiado.
“All funds raised by Lenku and his associates on the 29th will be deposited directly with the court. Absolutely no portion of these funds will go to my pocket or personal benefit,” Metito stated. He accused the county government of nine years of administrative mismanagement that had left the region with severe service delivery deficits.
The clash between Ole Lenku and Metito carries an added political dimension as the State House Comptroller is widely reported to be preparing to challenge the governor for the Kajiado gubernatorial seat in the 2027 general election.