For Nakuru Town MP Samuel Arama, it has been a tale of controversy

Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama, who was on Monday charged with conspiracy to defraud in a Nairobi court, is not new to controversy in a region known as the hotbed of Kenyan politics.

Due to his leadership style, Mr Arama, who is serving his second term, has won praise and criticism over the years.

In 2015, the 58-year-old lawmaker was accused of assaulting a voter in his constituency and knocking off his two teeth, for the man’s "big headedness".

The complainant, Mr Richard Moseti, claimed to have been summoned to Kaptembwa police station only to find the agitated MP who accused him of inciting the youth against the him.

COURT BATTLE

In July last year, the MP who had been involved in a court battle with Family Bank over a Sh3 million loan lost his bid to stop the auction of a 0.15-hectare piece of land in order to recover the loan.

The land was registered under the name of his wife Florence Masita and had been used as collateral to secure the loan.

Environment and Lands Court Judge Dalmas Ohungo, in a ruling delivered on July 27, noted that the application filed by Mr Arama in June 2016 had not established sufficient grounds and dismissed it.

Justice Ohungo dismissed claims by the MP that the bank failed to issue a notice to his wife.

Justice Ohungo said Ms Masita was duly served and declined to restrain the bank from disposing of the suit land despite the differences in amounts owed to the bank.

SELLING LAND

The judge, however, noted that the bank could be stopped from selling the land if the MP pays the loan.

In January 2016, ahead of last year’s general elections, Mr Arama ditched ODM for Jubilee. Later in 2017 he clinched the Nakuru Town West parliamentary seat.

Days before his arrest, Mr Arama had survived a petition filed by his ODM rival, Dr Isoe Ochoki, to retain the seat.

Interestingly, his latest tribulations over suspected land fraud come after he publicly declared last week that he is ready for a lifestyle audit. "The lifestyle audits are good because if one is found of having illegally acquired property and returns it, the law may spare them,” he said.

If he is not cracking jokes and posting rib cracking videos and arguing with his constituents on social media, he is having nyama choma with them at his posh home in London estate on a Sunday afternoon.

POLITICAL MATTERS

And when he feels political matters in the county are not moving in the right direction Mr Arama steps forward and voices his concerns.

Recently, when Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui failed to attend two functions graced by Deputy President William Ruto in his constituency, he commented on the matter.

“I think some people are misleading the governor. I thought the governor was out of the country. I was disappointed to learn that one of the governor’s aides went live on a local radio station casting doubts on the promises given by the DP and that is why the governor skipped the meeting,” said Mr Arama.

He has also recently acquired the tag of  “political mediator". When Nakuru Speaker Joel Maina faced impeachment, he joined hands with his Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria and Senator Susan Kihika to save Mr Kairu by holding a meeting with some of the 78 MCAs. Mr Kairu survived the motion.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

The MP has been praised for development projects in his constituency among them roads, street lighting and schools.

Mr Arama has said the first-ever public boarding primary school for boys and girls in Nakuru Town are in the offing.

“Mr Arama has proven that he not only focuses on Nakuru Town West, but is also a true leader of Nakuru County,” said Mr Simon Sangale a resident of Nakuru Town East.