Murkomen, Cherargei beef escalates to social media from Senate chamber
The spat between Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has intensified, spilling over from the floor of the Senate to a heated exchange on social media.
The confrontation was sparked on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, during a Senate session in which Murkomen appeared to answer questions surrounding the controversial death of civil servant Albert Ojwang.
Ojwang’, a teacher, was found dead under unclear circumstances. His death, alongside a string of other unresolved killings including those of Catholic priests Allois Cheruiyot Bett and Maina, and incidents in Baragoi, Nakuru, and Mombasa, has raised concerns in Parliament and the public over rising insecurity and possible government negligence.
Murkomen accused Senator Cherargei of harassing him across various government dockets and using every opportunity to question his suitability for public office.
“I’ve served in different ministries, and every time I appear before the Senate, Senator Cherargei is there shouting that I must resign. He follows me from ministry to ministry like a personal tormentor,” Murkomen stated.
“It is unfortunate that he was once my law student, though a below-average one — and now he wants to challenge my legitimacy.”
Cherargei quickly took to social media to refute Murkomen’s assertion and accuse the CS of attempting to deflect accountability.
“For the record, CS Murkomen never taught me in any class of law. He is simply making political statements to save his skin from accountability and his poor performance in the Ministry of Interior,” Cherargei wrote on X’s official account.
“He should answer to Kenyans: Who killed Albert Ojwang’? Who murdered Fr. Allois Cheruiyot Bett, Fr. Maina? What about the Angata Baragoi killings and the rise of criminal gangs in Nakuru and Mombasa? He must RESIGN!”
In a scathing retort, the Senator further dismissed Murkomen’s claims of having been his lecturer: “How can an incompetent person teach me? It can’t happen.”
Senator Cherargei’s criticism of Murkomen did not begin with the current controversy. He has been a vocal critic of the CS since Murkomen’s time in the Ministry of Roads and Transport, accusing him of incompetence and involvement in corrupt practices.
Cherargei repeatedly questioned the awarding of road construction tenders, delays in major infrastructure projects, and the ballooning costs of public works under Murkomen’s leadership.
In several Senate sittings between 2022 and 2023, the Nandi Senator demanded accountability over stalled road projects in the Rift Valley, claiming that Murkomen was more focused on public relations than on actual service delivery.
“Our roads are in deplorable condition, but the CS is busy launching signs and tweeting progress that doesn’t exist,” Cherargei said during one such debate.
He also accused Murkomen of shielding contractors allegedly connected to political allies and failing to act on audit reports exposing mismanagement of funds.
“This is a pattern of negligence and impunity,” Cherargei said at the time. “You can’t keep failing upwards.”
