This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
Murkomen Apologizes to Kirinyaga Residents After Senate Clears Waiguru ¶
On June 16, 2020, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen apologized to residents of Kirinyaga County after the Senate voted to establish an 11-member committee to investigate allegations against Governor Anne Waiguru.
During a heated sitting, Murkomen opposed the formation of the committee, calling for the plenary to deliberate on the matter. However, 45 Senators voted in support of the committee, while only 14 opposed it.
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka directed the committee to begin their work immediately and submit their findings within 10 days.
Murkomen told Kenyans not to anticipate the committee's decision, stating that Waiguru had already been 'sanitized' by the Senate. He advised the residents to take up the matter through other channels, predicting that the committee would guarantee Waiguru's safety.
"Senate has sanitised and cleared the Governor of Kirinyaga. It’s done. Don’t wait for the Committee’s decision," Murkomen wrote on Twitter.
"To the people of Kirinyaga I am sorry we did our best but it is finished. Your fight for accountability has been frustrated by Senate don’t give up use other avenues," he added.
Siaya Senator James Orengo, however, dismissed Murkomen's claims and used a story from the Bible to explain his support for the committee. Orengo claimed that there was a hidden hand behind the impeachment of Waiguru in the County Assembly.
"This Senate should never be in a position where there is a dictation on how we handle our business. This is a very important institution," Orengo said.
"But I want to say this to finish, if you are like Herod's daughter Salome who danced so well, and Herod asked her 'what do you want?', she said 'John the Baptist's head'. Today, Some people have danced so well, they are not looking for justice, they are looking for somebody's head. Waiguru's head is being asked for not by the County Assembly, and I have evidence. I can tell you," Orengo asserted.
