Murkomen Defends Himself After Photos Spark Uproar

Elgeyo Marakwet Kipchumba Murkomen sanitizing his hands before entering the Senate on March 31, 2020.
Elgeyo Marakwet Kipchumba Murkomen sanitizing his hands before entering the Senate on March 31, 2020.
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Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, on Wednesday, April 1, issued a statement explaining photos he had shared earlier in the day that had sparked an uproar across various social media platforms.

The senator had shared a photo of himself behind the wheel of his car, going on to point out that he was observing social distancing as directed by the government to combat the Covid-19 pandemic

Netizens criticised that he was showing off his luxurious car in the images posted on his Facebook page. 

"The message here is not about my driving skills or ownership of a car. The message is simple. Let’s free those who can work from home and those whose services are not essential for now while protecting their salaries and enable them to stay home (like my driver for now).

We have to forego none essential services like shaving in a barbershop (I pray my barber survives this period will support where I can), let’s avoid crowds and follow the state guidelines," Murkomen stated.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen takes a selfie while behind the wheel on April 1, 2020.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen takes a selfie while behind the wheel on April 1, 2020.
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"Driving yourself isn't a difficult task mheshimiwa, there are people who walk to and from work and they don't post about how they walked," one user criticised.

Similar content provoked the Senate majority leader to come out and explain the context of the photos he had shared across his social media platforms.

The senator had on March 31, moved a suggested on the floor of the house that at least 10 million Kenyan families need a cash transfer stimulus to cushion them from the adverse effects of Coronavirus.

“A broad-based stimulus package is needed to cushion the poor of the poor from the economic effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. If we do not guarantee food to Kenyans living in Mathare or Kibera slums, they will walk to Muthaiga to get food for themselves,” he stated during his impassioned statement.

Kenya is among member countries allowed to tap into a Ksh319 billion emergency fund set up by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to help African countries weather the sudden economic disruptions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, Business Daily reported on March 30.

On his part, President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, March 30, held a historic meeting which was convened by the member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to find solutions for the Covid-19 pandemic.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the agreement to establish a continental Anti-Covid-19 Africa Fund to which members went on to raise Ksh1.7 billion

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen takes a selfie while behind the wheel on April 1, 2020.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen takes a selfie while behind the wheel on April 1, 2020.
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