This archive report was first published on 8 July 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's cabinet is facing a new crisis as Deputy President's allies, led by Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and MP Oscar Sudi, have called for the ouster of Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and his Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho.
The move comes after the murder of former MCA Benson Kiptire, who was abducted and later found murdered in a forest in West Pokot two weeks ago.
Senator Murkomen and MP Sudi, who were speaking during the burial of Benson Kiptire at Tenderwa village, Elgeyo Marakwet, accused the Interior Ministry of knowing who was behind the murder.
MP Sudi threatened that they would mobilize their people to find their own ways of looking for peace because the government that they are a part of has failed to protect its citizens.
“I want to tell Kibicho and Matiang’i that the Kanu era ended long ago. We are burying our people who have been killed by people known to security agents and they want to cheat us that the same police officers can investigate such cases,” said Oscar Sudi.
Senator Murkomen also accused the government of perpetuating assassinations and extra-judicial killings.
“The era of assassinations and extrajudicial killings is back in our country. Benson is an indictment of the government which I serve and which I campaigned for. If another government was in power Benson would not be in that casket. It’s painful but it’s true,” said Senator Murkomen.
