Johanna Ngeno: Defender of the people's defender or political agitator?

Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ngeno arrives for a meeting with residents of Angata Barikoi, on April 29, 2026. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

In the volatile Trans Mara South, where historical land grievances continue to fuel deep-seated tensions, Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ngeno has once again placed himself at the centre of controversy.

To his supporters, Ngeno is a fearless defender of the marginalised, a voice for the Kipsigis community willing to confront state authority. To his critics, however, he is a populist firebrand—one who thrives on division and political drama.

Violence erupted in Angata Barrikoi on April 28, following a government-led land demarcation exercise. Clashes between Kipsigis residents and General Service Unit (GSU) officers left six people dead, including a child. Amidst the chaos, Ngeno was captured on video wielding a traditional Maasai rungu (club) and confronting armed police officers.

“Why are you killing people? What do you want here?” he demanded, as officers retreated in the face of community outrage and mobile phone cameras.

To the Kipsigis, this was classic Ngeno—bold, uncompromising, and unafraid. Yet for members of the Siria Maasai clan, he was a destabilising outsider exploiting tragedy for political mileage.

At the funeral of Charles Langat, who was killed days later in a cattle raid, Ngeno delivered a scathing indictment of the government. “He wasn’t killed by an arrow—he was shot,” Ngeno declared, accusing the state of turning its weapons on its own citizens. He called for the deployment of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit and a permanent Kenya Defence Forces presence along the border.

He further alleged that senior officials in the Interior Ministry, and even local allies of President William Ruto, had been misled into backing what he termed “state-sponsored land grabbing.”

“We voted for President Ruto. But some of those close to him are feeding him lies about land ownership, turning the government against its own supporters,” Ngeno said.

The focal point of the unrest is a disputed 6,325-acre tract of land known as Moyoi. The Siria Maasai claim to have legally acquired it in 1966 and argue it was never part of the Ongata Barrikoi adjudication process, where Kipsigis communities were settled in 1955.

“We have our own MP, Julius Ole Sunkuli. Ngeno isn’t elected here. What he’s doing is reckless. Let the courts decide, not politicians,” said local elder Joseph Kisiara.

Another elder, Peter Ole Tompoi, added, “We offered 1,500 acres as a peace gesture. Instead, we were met with violence. Now, we’re taking everything back.”

During a tense visit by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Ngeno escalated his rhetoric, demanding the arrest of Deputy County Commissioner Abdihakim Jubat, whom he accused of ordering officers to “shoot to kill.”

Nicknamed ‘Ngong’ due to being one-eyed, Ngeno’s political style is combative and populist. Under former President Uhuru Kenyatta, he was repeatedly arrested for allegedly inciting violence. In one infamous speech, he declared: “This land does not belong to Kenyatta or Mama Ngina. It belongs to all 47 million Kenyans.”

A law graduate with a Master’s degree in International Studies, Ngeno is as intellectually capable as he is controversial. Yet his approach has always leaned more towards activism than diplomacy.

As Narok County grapples with growing unrest, the question remains: is Ngeno a courageous voice for the voiceless or a dangerous provocateur fanning the flames of ethnic strife?

The answer, it seems, depends on where you live—and who you believe.