From his humble background, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has undergone a remarkable transformation since being elected in 2013.
The son of a squatter, Murkomen grew up in a village in the Embobut Forest but is never shy to remind his constituents during political rallies of his closeness to the powers that be.
But his closeness to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto has come back to haunt him as he prepares to defend his seat in next year’s elections.
Last weekend, the Senate Deputy Majority Leader was on the receiving end at a peace meeting at Kerio Valley Boys High School after residents took him to task over Jubilee’s performance.
The meeting was organised by local churches and the county government, ostensibly to pray for peace following a new round of attacks by cattle rustlers.
Before the meeting, there were demonstrations led by Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos and former Inspector General (IG) of Police David Kimaiyo, whose recent declaration that he would challenge Murkomen has rattled the county.
An outspoken defender of the government and a member of the so-called Jubilee ‘Sky Team’, Murkomen landed at the meeting to a hostile reception by the residents.
The senator, who usually traverses the expansive county in a chopper, has been put under siege by residents to show what the region has gained from his Niko Jikoni (I am in the kitchen) parlance.
Even though he surprised many in 2013 when he beat former powerful Minister Nicholas Biwott in the senatorial race, Kimaiyo’s entry in the race has forced back to the drawing board.
Kimaiyo, the former Inspector General of police and Kenya Airports Authority chairman has said he will seek Kanu’s ticket to fight it out with Murkomen who is highly expected to be Jubilee’s candidate.
Also in the race is Michael Kibiwot, a senior officer with an international NGO.
With the current spate of insecurity along the Kerio Valley, the retired police officer has positioned himself as the viable alternative while Murkomen battles accusations that he has done next to nothing to restore peace.
At last weekend’s peace meeting, Murkomen received a backlash over Jubilee administration’s failure to contain insecurity in the area.
“Women and children live in snake-infested caves along the escarpments, yet we claim to be in government,” Cheserek Moinoi, a resident, said, and added that Marakwet elders would seek audience with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto, because the area’s elected leaders had failed them.
“What is the benefit of us being in government yet we are being killed? It’s better to suffer in the opposition than to suffer in government,” Endo MCA Festus Kiprop said.
Troubled region
But Murkomen dismissed the criticism, saying he has worked tirelessly with other leaders to restore peace in the area and accused some county leaders of ferrying and paying individuals to undermine him and the government.
“The planners of the rally missed the point. Unfortunately, politics of 2017 election and re-election dominated the day,” he said.
He said the government has invested a lot in security personnel and equipment to bring peace in the troubled region and claimed focus must shift to Tiaty Constituency where the aggressors are believed to be from.
“Some people are wondering why I should be answerable on security matters yet it’s not part of the job descriptions of a senator,” said Murkomen.
Political observers said the hostility towards the senator could be a sign of changing political tide against him and the government he claims to be close to.
Comparisons are already being drawn between Murkomen and former Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny, who won the hearts of the constituents in 2007.
But Kuttuny, who became a key ally of Ruto, was trounced in the 2013 polls by Wesly Korir, then a relatively unknown athlete.
Philip Chebunet, a political analyst and a lecturer at University of Eldoret (UoE) said events in Elgeyo Marakwet heralds a bruising competition for the senate seat and a simmering rebellion against the Jubilee government.
“The meeting was disguised as a peace rally but in the real sense, it was a two-pronged approach to send a political statement that it will not be business as usual and that the community has options,” said Mr Chebunet.
The biggest beneficiary of this rebellion, he says, is Kanu.
“Kanu is capitalising on the government’s inept handling of insecurity and other issues in the region. Kimaiyo will attract a following from the way he was bundled out of office. The locals are agitated due to lack of equality in resources sharing,” he said.
A resurgent Kanu, which is hoping to capitalise on an anticipated fall out in the new Jubilee Party and the vacuum created by the dissolution of URP is already reaping from the discontent in the Rift Valley.
Elgeyo Marakwet Kanu Chairman Paul Kibet said the happenings at the meeting were a pointer on how Jubilee has frustrated locals.
“People are reacting to injustices meted by the government,” he said.
Accusing the organisers of the weekend rally of playing politics with an important issue, Murkomen vowed to soldier on.
“We shall never get tired or discouraged. The alternative to peace is peace,” he said.
