Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen on Saturday gifted President Uhuru Kenyatta a belt.
A quick perusal of history books shows that the beaded belt holds a significant meaning as it featured prominently in shaping Kenya's first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta future in politics.
In the early 1900's, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta had an aunt who had married a Maasai chief and began living with her family. He adopted a number of Maasai customs and took to wearing the Maasai jewelry, including a beaded belt which was known as kinyata in the Kikuyu language.
[caption caption="President Uhuru and Murkomen picking a belt on 18/8/2018"]
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He was then going by the name, Kamau wa Muigai which later became Kinyata courtesy of the beaded belt he wore. The name was then politicized to become "Kenyatta".
On Sunday, Kenyans online took the belt to have a more political meaning in recent times.
One user noted; "We need to do a friendship audit of this sudden comradeship."
"Sema pia alikununulia mshipi. Kisha #KOT waulize receipt (Say that he also bought you a belt so that the keyboard warriors can ask for a receipt)"
Others noted that the senator had been spotted in the president's vicinity for the past days.
"Somebody's trying hard to prove a point... We can feel it brother," one netizen observed.
A sentiment echoed by another who stated, "Yes Senator you are in the first circle of power! But may you always use that opportunity for the good of the entire country, not a single community, not an individual, not only self! Amen!"
[caption caption="Some of the reactions"]
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"The way you are amplifying your encounter with the President now sounds of a desperate man out there to redeem a collapsed relationship," another added.
The majority leader and the Head of State had been spotted in a previous encounter where they made a stopover on their way to Nyeri.
"Thank you Mr.President sir for buying me tea today on our way to Nyeri for the Kenya Music Festival Winners' State Concert. Ubarikiwe sana Boss!" Murkomen tweeted on Friday.
He later joined the President in Sagana State Lodge, Nyeri County for the Music Festival Winners' State Concert noting; "Kenya has amazing talent and we shall continue to support the Ministry of Education as they do an amazing job with our children."
[caption caption="President Uhuru and Murkomen sharing a cup of tea on 17/8/2018"]
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