Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen on Saturday, November 16, sent a sharp message in the backdrop of President Uhuru Kenyatta's calls to Mt Kenya leaders to wait until the release of the Building Bridges Initiative report, to criticise or support it.
Speaking at Liloch in West Kipkellion Constituency, Murkomen was categorical that Rift Valley leaders would not even consider the BBI report until ODM leader Raila Odinga renounced attacks on politicians who were in Kibra during the November 7 by-election.
He sensationally stated that Raila had agreed to work with Uhuru with a commitment to renounce violence but had reneged on the promise.
"We will not continue talking about handshake and BBI until the master of violence renounces the violence in Kibra and asks for forgiveness. It is only then that we will consider going forward as a nation," Murkomen stated.
Murkomen compared Raila to a leopard that had returned to its former spots, alleging that the ODM leader had hoodwinked Kenyans and the president with promises he could not fulfil.
Murkomen's sentiments are in sharp contrast to those made by the president who had stated that the elections had been largely peaceful, compared to how they had been in the past.
In the gathering at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri, the president hailed the residents of Kibra for upholding peace during the campaigns and even on the material day of the by-election despite a few incidents.
"In all my years, I had never thought that people could campaign peacefully in Kibra. Despite the fact that a few people were stoned, we did not see any shop getting burnt or people having a hard time moving," President Kenyatta stated.
He also castigated the leaders gathered at the lodge for playing politics at a time when the government's sole agenda was development.
"Our work as leaders is to find solutions to issues facing our people. But I never hear some of these leaders speak about these issues. All I hear is vile exchanges. I wonder, when shall we work for our people?” he questioned.
