No thank you, you can have your Senate post, Murkomen tells Jubilee

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen at Parliament after he was de-whipped from his Majority Leadership. [File, Standard]

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has turned down the offer to serve in the Senate’s Devolution Committee in the new changes announced by Jubilee Party on Tuesday.

In the new changes announced by newly elected Majority Whip Irungu Kang'ata on Tuesday, Murkomen was to replace Laikipia Senator John Kinyua who is being ousted for leaning towards Deputy President William Ruto and also opposing the removal of Murkomen as majority leader.

The former Majority Leader, however, said accepting the new post will be a slap in the face of Kinyua whose only mistake was to stand by him during his ouster.

“This afternoon I learnt from the media that I have been proposed to serve in the Senate Devolution Committee in effect replacing Senator Kinyua who is being punished for standing with me. Accepting the position will be tantamount to repaying unstinting loyalty with spite and treachery,” he tweeted on Tuesday evening.

He said that he will not take a position at the expense of his colleagues who are being humiliated for no reason, adding that he was ready to serve the nation in other capacities.

“Now and in the future, I am ready to serve the nation in any capacity and in any committee even as a mere member. What I abhor is to take up positions at the expense of colleagues who are being humiliated for no apparent reason.”

Murkomen also condemned the removal of other senators allied to DP Ruto from Senate committee posts, saying they are being targeted for standing with the truth.

In the changes announced by Kangata, Bomet Senator Christopher Langat has been removed from the House Business Committee and lost the Education Committee chairman post.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei (Nandi) has also been removed as Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairman with his Meru counterpart Linturi Mithika also losing his membership at the powerful Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee.

John Kinyua will also lose his position as the chairman of the Devolution Committee in the new changes referred to as house cleaning exercise.

“I condemn the unwarranted humiliation of Senators Linturi, Kinyua, Langat and Cherargei merely because they stood by the truth and fairness,” said Murkomen.