Tribal. Vociferous. Vicious. Bigoted. Fascist. Intolerant. Dogmatic. Factional.
Those were some of the very deep adjectives that would be be liberally used to describe the Late William Ole Ntimama,a former Cabinet Minister and powerful KANU stalwart who straddled the entire Maasailand like a behemoth.
Born in February 1930,the self-appointed spokesman of the entire Masaai populace was a man of scarlet tempers and of some oft-disturbing views and comments.
He’s more infamous for the genocidal quip ‘Lie low like an envelope’ a bigoted remark he made regarding the Kikuyu population that he was afraid was encroaching the prized Maasai boundaries – and kicking the indigenous people out. His people.
Mr. Ntimama stormed his bulky way into Parliament back in 1988 and represented his community – and constituency – for close to three decades before stepping down in 2013 and retreating to a silent life of old age and probably (hopefully) regret.
Mr. Ntimama’s tenure as the face and voice of the Masaai,especially those from his native Narok,was fraught with much controversy and intolerance in a beautiful era of a regime that was too dictatorial,too reckless,too tyrannical and too riddled with impunity to care investigate him or even hound him to Court.
Today,you can never make the sort of dangerous statements that Mr. Ntimama used to make in his heyday and have a peaceful sleep.
You will probably be whisked off from your house at daybreak and arraigned in Court by mid day and thrown off into a cell by afternoon and ordered to pay bond by evening.
Today,Mr. William Ole Ntimama would never dare make the sort of comments he carelessly made back in the day. Not when you have a whole militia of anti-hate speech organizations waiting to fry your butt.
Also,a bloodthirsty Court in the Hague,Netherlands too.
But as one of Mr. Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi’s most sycophantic lieutenants,Mr. Ntimama was allowed to say anything – even do anything – and heartily laugh his way back to the office.
He was the Donald Trump of the 1990’s.
A man so intolerant of the Kikuyu Community,as Trump is of the Latinas and pretty much anyone else,he carved out an entire career based on hate and prejudice and thoughtless jingoism.
Also,he wasn’t exactly a very spirited defender of liberty and democracy.
Mr. Ntimama was famously unrepentant on his utterances, some of which were the subject of the Akiwumi inquiry into tribal violence and which are blamed for the uprooting of hundreds of Kikuyus from the Rift Valley in 1991.
He even openly admitted in a 2013 Daily Nation interview that Mr. Moi USED him to fight off the Kikuyu.
Also,he used to strongly believe that the Maasai was the Aryan community… Just like Hitler thought of the Germans.
Below are eight of some of the most appalling comments the gap-toothed man ever made.
He made many. Very many actually… But for now,we will have to start with these eight.
Clamorous and vehement,Mr. Ntimama’s tongue was made of fire and acid.
Below,a classic demonstration.
1. Multipartysim will lead to the domination of smaller tribes by larger ones. Kenya still has a big degree of tribalism. We will probably need another 50 to 60 years to build up a homogeneous society which could then be ready for multipartysim ” – April 28,1990
2. The Ibos of Nigeria were cut to size and I said the same thing could happend to these tribalists. They could also be cut to size. If this is the utterance that some people are referring to,then I want to reiterate here and now that I will stand by it and I have no regrets about it…” – August, 1990
3. Most of the Government-appointed Land Board officials are ‘quislings, culture-less, colorless half breeds who sell the heritage of their people… For the sake of commissions and other favors… ” – September, 1996
4. The intention of agitators for constitutional reform is not only to cause confusion but also to usurp political leadership from the ingenious Maasai people and to establish majoritarian tyranny and entrench tribal hegemony” – December 2,1995
5. Go to Ngong,Kiserian and Ongata Rongai. A single community has occupied Maasailand from Ngong to Loitoktok ” – December 2,1995
6. Because our power of pen and paper is limited,we will used a rungu to keep multiparty advocates away – September, 1990
7. I am telling those whom we have invited to the Rift Valley and who have now come up to Kitale,that our political wishes must be respected. In the African type of politics,there will always be problem with your neighbors if you’re not in the same political house ” – January, 1997
8. Kikuyus are people with protruding stomachs, flat noses twisted jigger-infested feet and stain,brown teeth” – September, 1992
WTF???
Also,a bonus quote that that been told and retold for decades and decades…
‘Lie Low Like An Envelope…’
In the Daily Nation interview,and in many others as well,Ntimama always insisted that he said Like low like an ANTELOPE…But the media heard ENVELOP. And then he let it stick. Envelope it is,He conceded.
Hmmm….
That was one colorful way of talking,Bwana Ntimama.
May he Rest In Peace. Piece. Prince. Peas. Bees. Whatever you please.
