President Uhuru Kenyatta has reportedly saved Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen from imminent ouster as the Senate Majority Leader.
According to Daily Nation, the last minute call by the Head of State on Sunday evening led to the cancellation of what would have been an announcement seeking to replace Murkomen from Jubilee ranks.
Murkomen had on Saturday strongly castigated the government over the ongoing Mau Forest evictions calling the operation inhumane - a position that did not go down well with some of his party members.
[caption caption="Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen"]
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Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja particularly faulted Murkomen over what he termed as disrespect to the President who is also the party leader.
However, Murkomen had likely caught wind of the looming trouble as he had hinted to the Mau Forest residents that trouble might be on the way.
"I want to tell you today, if tomorrow I get ejected as the Senate majority leader, it will be because I talked on your behalf," Murkomen stated.
Murkomen, a close associate of Deputy President William Ruto has in the recent past contradicted Uhuru in what seems to be breeding antagonism.
In particular, Murkomen appeared to oppose the calls for the lifestyle audit on senior government officials which was ordered by the President.
His latest sentiments, however, appear to have rubbed the party leadership the wrong way with Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju coming out to disown Murkomen's remarks.
[caption caption="Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju"]
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Tuju had indicated that the party's disciplinary committee would deliberate whether to take action against Murkomen while noting that the Mau Forest evictions would continue as planned.
