PROFILE OF A CONSENSUS BUILDER

Samuel Kuntai ole Tunai was elected on March 4, 2013 as the first Governor of Narok County. He was sworn in on March 27, 2013.

An independent-minded leader with a balanced temperament and a philanthropic streak, Governor Tunai has a knack for consensus building. Apart from paying attention to detail, he combines a lifelong passion for good governance, business and community development and has a soft spot for poor children. 

With a proven track record in leadership, Tunai, a former National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) officer, has earned invaluable expertise in corporate and business leadership spanning over 15 years, with great interests in livestock farming, tourism, agriculture and real estate.

Born and raised by ordinary local Maasai parents, Tunai attended local schools and later joined the University of Nairobi, where he studied Public Administration and International Relations, despite the numerous financial and other challenges. He is very organized, combining logical and analytical traits with profound networking skills.

Narok Governor Samuel Kuntai ole Tunai

Before joining politics, Tunai set upon improving the lives of ordinary community members, with a particular interest in the advancement of educational standards. He sponsored the building of more than 20 classrooms, dining halls and hostels around Narok County to help needy students get a chance at quality education. He initiated the Mara Youth Enterprise Forum in 2009 to provide a platform for youth mentorship in the Maasai community. The foundation has so far benefited more  than  5,000  students,  school leavers, teachers and youth through educational and motivational engagements. The 44-year-old governor is also a spirited environmentalist, who has set aside 200 acres of his farm for afforestation. He has more than 200,000 assorted trees that have created a micro climate in the area.

Governor Tunai faces the challenge of transforming a local agricultural county community into a secure, literate and developed county with cross-sector investments. His county has high unemployment rates, unpaved roads and an urgent need for comprehensive healthcare services and which he is fast addressing.