Samburu Senator Lelegwe breaks silence amid anti-women claims
By Kenna Claude, January 30, 2026Samburu Senator Lelegwe Ltumbesi has defended himself against accusations by his colleague, nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian, that he is leading efforts to undermine the efforts of women politicians in the county.
In a press briefing on Friday, January 30, 2026, the legislator denied claims and instead claimed that for the first time, politicians were using his name to seek political capital in order to gain relevance among the electorate.
“I must strongly reject any narrative-implicit or otherwise-that seeks to frame Samburu as hostile to women in leadership. Since devolution, Samburu has demonstrably given women fair and equal opportunity. The Samburu people have elected a woman Member of Parliament in a single-member constituency for two consecutive terms. Recently, in a by-election in Angata Nanyekie Ward in Samburu, a woman was elected,” the senator argued.
Naisula Lesuuda has been the Member of Parliament for Samburu West since 2017.
The furious Lelegwe, who is serving his second term, claimed that due to the political heat that is gaining momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, upcoming politicians and those who are struggling for relevance are using social media to taint images of established leaders to gain relevance among voters, especially the youth.
“The newly nominated senator is not in my league of politics; those whom I am likely to face come 2027 are the immediate former governor and two county officials”, he noted.
“I am utterly shocked and disturbed by these unfounded allegations, which falsely portray me as someone capable of orchestrating violence against a fellow legislator.”
Lelgwe-Lemaletian tiff
The youngster ODM nominated senator, Hezena Lemaletian, is on record accusing her colleague of using goons to disrupt her political ambitions, endangering her life.
She further claimed that the Lelegwe had instructed her not to focus on senior seats like gubernatorial or senatorial seats but instead stick to women’s rep or member of the county assembly.
“To my friends and relatives: If anything happens to me, one family in Samburu and its allies in the political class should be blamed,” she stated.
According to the senator, the unnamed family had previously threatened her late father, and now they appear to be targeting her.
She added that they disrupted her engagement, used social media to spread false accusations against her, and are now behind the threats.
“After miserably failing an attempt on my late father years ago (who beat them all mercilessly), they are now after me; from swearing to ensure my engagement flopped by all means (their clan supremacy battles) to consequently aiding social media misuse of my name with unfounded and very false allegations for reasons best known to them,” her statement read.
The Senator said she had provided evidence of the threats to the relevant authorities and would continue to seek justice.
“I will continue to pursue justice until I get to the bottom of it. I have left the records of who these people are with the relevant authorities,” she said.
Recently, Lematian disclosed that she had broken off her engagement and returned the dowry, citing cultural traditions and a background check.
The senator, who got engaged in October 2024 during a lavish traditional ceremony, stated that she had no intention of marrying the individual.
On May 16, 2025, she explained that her family, in line with Samburu customs, conducted a thorough background check and subsequently decided to cancel the marriage process.
“Allegations that I was married are false and unfounded, and I shall also not be married to that person whatsoever. I deeply thank our elders. The due procedure of the Samburu culture is that a background check must be conducted before the marriage. And so it was, and THOROUGHLY,” she noted.