This man Cherarkey: The loud, unapologetic Ruto loyalist

Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey. [File, Standard]

Samson Kiprotich Cherarkey has never hidden his love for confronting those opposed to President William Ruto’s administration. To his supporters, the Nandi senator exemplifies courage and conviction.

To his critics, he is nothing more than a political rabble-rouser. In the Senate, Cherarkey has turned the chamber into his personal stage, often dominating major debates with a style that is rarely short of drama.

The alumnus of Kapsabet Boys High School and Moi University first burst onto the national scene in 2017 as one of the youngest senators ever elected in Kenya.

From sponsoring controversial legislation seeking to extend the President’s term limit, to his public spats with Cabinet Secretaries such as Kipchumba Murkomen, and his inflammatory “finya hao bila huruma” remarks on Kenyan activism in East Africa, the die-hard Ruto loyalist has delivered a whirlwind tenure both on the Senate floor and as a public figure.

On the proposal to extend presidential terms, Cherarkey argued that holding elections every five years does not give elected leaders enough time to serve, as the final two years are usually consumed by campaigns.

The Bill was, however, defeated resoundingly.

“99.99 per cent of the submissions received expressed strong opposition to the Bill, either in its entirety or specifically the clauses relating to the extension of terms of the President, Members of Parliament, governors and Members of County Assemblies,” said Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee chairman Hillary Sigei.

Cherarkey was once a constant critic of Murkomen, first as Transport Cabinet Secretary over the poor state of roads, and later as Interior CS over insecurity. He repeatedly accused Murkomen of incompetence and corruption, particularly regarding banditry in the North Rift.

During one heated Senate session, a visibly furious Murkomen hit back, questioning Cherarkey’s education and lamenting that the senator “follows me from ministry to ministry like a personal tormentor.” The rivalry later spilt over onto social media.

In November 2025, Cherarkey ignited one of the most explosive controversies of his career. While speaking in Kapsabet, he urged Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to “finya hao bila huruma” (crush them mercilessly), referring to Kenyan activists accused of meddling in the internal affairs of the neighbouring countries.

Many interpreted the remarks as a veiled endorsement of the wave of abductions and crackdowns sweeping across East Africa.