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Embattled Transport and Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has hit out at a section of leaders from Rift Valley over what he called engaging in empty political rhetoric instead of serving the people.

Murkomen has in the recent past come under fire from some leaders in the region among them outspoken Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei over the implementation of road projects in the region.

But Murkomen contends that the Kenya Kwanza administration has invested billions of shillings towards road infrastructure in Rift Valley contrary to allegations from the leaders.

Speaking during a live morning show at a local radio station, Murkomen cited Bomet County which he said has received more than Sh300 million for road network this financial year.

“I wonder when some governors and other leaders from the region make a lot of unfounded complaints without consulting my office or the Executive. If you have an issue with a road network in your county, why don’t you come to my office?” queried Murkomen.

Table evidence

“Why are some governors out of touch with issues yet they were elected as the representatives of the people? If they have an issue, why don’t they approach the president through the inter-governmental relations for issues affecting their regions?” he asked.

At the same time, Murkomen dared Cherargei to table evidence to prove allegations linking him (Murkomen) to corruption in the Ministry of Roads or he meets him in court.

The CS has already filed a defamation case against Cherargei over corruption accusations amounting to Sh15.3 billion.

In a letter dated November 29, 2023, Murkomen accused the senator of defamation following the allegations that the CS collected more than Sh15.3 billion ($100M) bribe from a Chinese Company, China Wu Yi early last year.

Through his lawyers, Murkomen has demanded that the senator accepts that his claims were false and proceed to tender a public apology failure to which the CS would continue to take legal action against him.

“The said offensive words tend to lower the reputation of our client in the estimation of the ordinary, just and right-thinking members of the society,” stated the letter.

“Take further notice that if you fail to comply with the terms of this demand within the time specified above, we have firm and unequivocal instructions to institute court proceedings against you without any further reference to you. This will be at your peril as to costs and other incidentals attendant to such court action,” added the letter.

Cherargei made the accusations at the Senate after Murkomen was summoned to explain the state of roads and other infrastructures in the country.

Cherargei claimed that out of the said bribe, Murkomen had already received half of the money amounting to over Sh7.6 billion as a deposit.
The lawmaker went on to claim that the said money had been stashed in Dubai adding that he could even provide the evidence.

“So I want to dare him to tell the country what agreement he made on allegation of receiving a hundred million US Dollars from China Wu Yi where he was paid an upfront of fifty million, and we have all the facts, we have the flight manifest, we know where the money is in Dubai,” claimed Cherargei.