Ruto sends Murkomen to represent him in Congo Brazzaville at Sassou Nguesso’s inauguration
By Kenneth Mwenda, April 16, 2026Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has travelled to Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, to represent President William Ruto at the inauguration of President Denis Sassou Nguesso.
The visit follows Nguesso’s re-election on March 15, 2026, which paved the way for the swearing-in ceremony set to bring together several regional and international leaders.
Murkomen left Kenya on Thursday morning, April 16, 2026, accompanied by Members of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor (Langata), Mohamed Abdi Abdirahman (Lafey), Irene Njoki (Bahati), Linet Chepkorir (Bomet County), Bernard Kitur (Nandi Hills) and John Bwire (Taveta).
Speaking before his departure, Murkomen said Kenya values its ties with the Republic of the Congo and supports closer cooperation on shared environmental and economic priorities.
The CS said that maritime and riverine nations with strategic ecological assets, Kenya and the Republic of the Congo, share a common responsibility to protect and harness aquatic ecosystems for sustainable development.
He added that the Republic of the Congo plays an important role in protecting the Congo Basin, which remains one of the world’s largest carbon sinks.
“Kenya particularly appreciates the Republic of the Congo’s leadership within the Congo Basin ecosystem and its role in preserving one of the world’s most important carbon sinks,” Murkomen said.
He noted that environmental protection efforts in Central Africa align with Kenya’s own climate agenda, especially in global and continental discussions on climate justice.
He said that the protection of the Congo Basin resonates strongly with Kenya’s climate justice advocacy at continental and multilateral levels.
Sassou begins fifth term
Republic of the Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso is set to begin his fifth consecutive term after provisional results confirmed his re-election in the March 15 vote, extending his nearly 42 years in power. Interior Minister Raymond Zephirin Mboulou announced on state television that Sassou Nguesso secured 94.82 percent of the vote.
State media also reported a turnout of 84.65 percent, although several polling stations in the capital, Brazzaville, recorded low activity with short or no queues on election day. The vote followed a campaign marked by a boycott from two key opposition parties over allegations of unfair electoral practices, while several prominent opposition figures remained in prison or in exile.
Analysts had widely projected an easy win for the 82-year-old leader, who faced six little-known challengers in a tightly controlled political environment.