Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kichumba Murkomen was for the better part of Wednesday morning engaged in a Twitter fight with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Communications Director Phillip Etale.
Trouble started after Murkomen accused Etale of instigating an attack against Senior Citizen TV reporter Francis Gachuri.
Senator Murkomen took to his Twitter account to condemn Mr Etale after goons attacked Gachuri and NTV Camerawoman Jane Gatwiri at Wiper headquarters.
The Senate Majority Leader posted a video portraying Etale as part of the youth who were attacking Mr Gachuri at the NASA press conference. He dared the communications director to deny involvement.
However, Gachuri absolved Mr Etale from the ugly attacks on journalists which Senator Murkomen and State House Director of Digital, Innovations and Diaspora Communications Dennis Itumbi, had linked him to.
[caption caption="Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Murkomen"]
[/caption]
Mr Etale upheld his stance, through a post on his Facebook account, that he did not partake in the assault and thanked Gachuri for clearing the air on the matter
Things, however, took a downturn on Wednesday morning when the ODM Communications Director dared the Senator to face him if he had things to get off his chest.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Mr Etale accused Senator Murkomen of spreading propaganda even after the reporter vindicated him of any wrongdoings.
“He is peddling too much propaganda with regard to my friend Gachuri’s attack yesterday even after Gachuri had set the record straight, he has continued to do so. I just want him to face me in person and tell me what it is he has against me,” Mr Etale stated.
[caption caption="A tweet by Philip Etale"]
[/caption]
NASA issued a statement condemning the attack and promised to investigate the matter. It further clarified that the youth acted on their own.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga further issued an apology to the journalists who were assaulted.
Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Erick Oduor also condemned the attack and warned that its members would in future stay away from such events if action is not taken immediately.
