KATOO OLE METITO: The King Who Has Never Led His People to Opposition

KATOO OLE METITO: The King who has never led his people to Opposition. How Hon. Katoo made it to be the loyalist of Presidents Kibaki, Uhuru and now Ruto is something yet to be studied.  By Phillip Mosiany

Katoo Judah Ole Metito 49, joined politics in 2003. He shortly served as an Administrator and accountant for Kenya Economic and pastoralist Development Association and United Nations WFP as a divisional controller in Kenya. He first contested for the MP seat for Kajiado south following the death of Hon. Geoffrey Mepukori Parpaai. He won against 13 other contestants emerging the youngest MP in Kenya at a tender age of 29. Regardless the fact that Katoo did not enjoy the support of the elderly, he still broke the glass ceiling by winning at his first trial and at a young age against the odds.

During his term as an MP, he had a rough time in identifying himself with his fellow MPs as everyone referred to him as ‘kijana’ (junior). Katoo was immediately appointed as assistant Minister for Youth and Sports.
In 2007, he vied in PNU party and won. In 2008, president Kibaki appointed him as an assistant Minister for Regional Development. He turned out to be Kibaki’s loyalist and became secretary to political affairs in the Kibaki Administrations.
On September 24th 2012, following the death of Prof. George Saitoti, he was immediately appointed to replace the deceased in Internal Security ministry. This was where Katoo’s performance and leadership capacity was put to test. The ministry involved lots of complex operations and all eyes in the country were directed to Katoo to see his take. The firmness in his discharge of duties was satsfactory and seemed to had contented President Kibaki especially in his stand in parliament to defend deployment of KDF in security threatened areas (Baragoi and Garisa) and putting it clear that the security agencies then we’re ill-equipped to perform their functions and something must be done. He was then awarded two golden medals, The Moran of Golden Hearts(MGH) and Elderly of Golden Heart (EGH) by President Kibaki.

In 2013 General election, he retained his MP seat through Jubilee party. He then became the Jubilee party Chief Whip in parliament.
In 20l7 general election, he still retained his seat and was appointed to chair parliamentary committees, for defense, foreign affairs and East Africa Community.
How Hon. Katoo made it to be the loyalist of Presidents Kibaki, Uhuru and now Ruto is something yet to be studied.