Alfred Keter is one of the most outspoken Member of Parliament in the country. However, as his nephew, Dennis Chesimet shares, Keter who was born and raised in Ollessos village, Nandi county, a fourth born in a family of six has been vocal all his life, being the ringleader in many strikes where he felt that injustice was done.
Dennis recalls hearing the news of his uncle leading strikes and watching from a distance how he fought for the rights of all. For instance, during his times at Cheplelachbei Primary School between 1 987 to 1995 and then Kapsabet High School between 1996 to 1999, he is known to have led many strikes, one of which ended up with him being expelled in Form Four after harassing a cook who failed to give students food.
Consequently, he was forced to take his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams outside school. But he excelled and managed to secure a slot at Egerton University where he studied political science. However, he was expelled in 2001 during his second year after leading a strike to oppose tuition increment. He moved to court to challenge his expulsion, but the administration withdrew the case before it was heard. He was then reinstated..
“Whenever we talk about this, he says, ‘I just knew my rights.’ Actually, Keter is that kind of a person who will come out to demand for what he knows is right,” he says.
Tough beginnings The MP was elected vice chair of the university’s student union in his third year and in the same year, he became the chair after the then chairman was expelled from campus. But he wouldn’t last for long as Keter led another strike that saw the university close down for a while in 2002. Consequently, he was expelled.
He formed Narc Youth Conference and assisted retired president Mwai Kibaki during his campaigns where he greatly mobilised the youths to support him. Many youths who were part of this were either expelled or suspended from campus. They had a a Memorandum of Understandin, that if Kibaki won elections, they would be reinstated in school.
After his university education, Keter went back to the village, but later moved to Nairobi where he did menial jobs to survive. “He worked as a matatu tout at some point and managed Eastleigh route Number Nine matatus,” recalls Dennis.
However, in 2007, Keter vied for Starehe parliamentary seat, but lost to Bishop Margaret Wanjiru. “He was disappointed and returned home in Nandi. When people learnt of his loss, they encouraged him to vie for the seat in the area,” says Dennis. Though tough, in 2013, the firebrand politician managed to clinch the Nandi Hills seat. He sought for reelection in 2017 and by this time, Dennis who was all grown was willing to support his uncle, whom he fondly refers to as Kiptoo, gain the seat.
“I was among the youth that stood to sell him for re-election. We formed a number of WhatsApp groups to mobilise youth and also attended many forums during the campaigns,” he recalls.
Leadership and his fight for justice are not the only traits that Dennis has admired his uncle for. Keter is also a kind-hearted, humble man and Dennis remembers how he got involved in farm activities at home such as planting and harvesting maize.
