What began as a routine Senate session to grill top security officials over the rising cases of insecurity erupted into a fiery exchange between Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, exposing deep divisions over the government’s handling of public safety.
The tension flared on Wednesday when Senator Cherargei launched a scathing attack on CS Murkomen, accusing him of incompetence and calling on President William Ruto to reshuffle the cabinet. He urged the head of state to return Murkomen to the Sports docket, accusing him of trivializing matters of national security.
“It is high time the president reshuffles his cabinet and takes the Interior CS back to Sports, because he treats serious issues like jokes. We will not allow this kind of negligence. Everyone must be held accountable,” said Cherargei.
The senator went on to criticize both Murkomen and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo for failing to provide regular updates on the brutal murder of blogger and political influencer Albert Omondi Ojwang, a contrast to what he described as detailed communication when Kasipul MP Sir Charles Ongondo Were was shot.
“When Ongondo Were was killed, PS Omollo gave daily updates. But now, with Ojwang’s murder, there’s complete silence. Why the double standard?” Cherargei demanded.
Murkomen, visibly irritated, dismissed the calls for his resignation, claiming that Cherargei had made it a personal crusade to undermine him regardless of the ministry he served.
“Every time I step into this chamber, Senator Cherargei insists I must resign. He said it when I was at Roads and Transport, he said it when I was at Sports, and now again at Interior. Yet strangely, when I leave these ministries, he suddenly stops talking about them. This has become his song,” Murkomen retorted.
The CS escalated the exchange by revealing that Cherargei had been his student at the university, sarcastically questioning the senator’s academic performance and legitimacy to critique his ministerial work.
“Mr. Speaker, I taught Senator Cherargei more than two subjects at university. His performance was below average. If competence is the yardstick, then he should not be evaluating mine,” Murkomen said, drawing laughter from some members of the House.
The escalating war of words prompted Senate Speaker Amason Kingi to intervene and restore order as Murkomen attempted to continue his remarks, drawing protests from Cherargei.
Wednesday’s Senate session was originally convened to hear responses from senior security officials including Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, DCI boss Mohamed Amin, and IPOA Vice Chairperson Ann Wanjiku regarding the unresolved murder of Ojwang. However, the proceedings were overshadowed by the sharp political clash between the Interior CS and the Nandi senator.
The emotional outburst highlights the growing pressure on the Interior Ministry to respond decisively to rising cases of insecurity and the apparent lack of transparency surrounding high-profile murders.
