Senator Samson Cherargei recently made headlines when he explained his concerns about Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen, culminating in a public conflict that played out both in the Senate and at public events.
One key issue raised by Cherargei was the allocation of road construction contracts, where he accused Murkomen of sidelining local contractors in favor of Chinese firms.
This tension escalated during a Senate session when Cherargei was ejected for interrupting Murkomen during a discussion on infrastructure projects.
Cherargei, visibly frustrated, accused Murkomen of disrespecting him, especially at public funerals, and failing to address local concerns about roads in Nandi County.
In addition to this, Cherargei has openly criticized Murkomen for allegedly accepting bribes from Chinese contractors, further straining their relationship.
This accusation led Murkomen to file a defamation suit against the senator, demanding an apology and legal accountability for the claims.
This friction highlights the deeper issue of political rivalries and conflicting views on how government projects should be handled, with Cherargei advocating for local contractors to be prioritized in public works, while Murkomen maintains that his focus is on completing infrastructure regardless of the contractors’ origin.