After the end of the Kibra by-election campaign period, Kieleweke and Tangatanga politics are back, thanks to Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.
The leader of Majority in the Senate revived the Building Bridges Intiative (BBI) discussion on social media, after alleging that the government had been showing favouritism towards corrupt State officials who are in support of the Handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM Leader Raila Odinga.
According to Murkomen, all a governor facing corruption charges has to do is pledge allegiance to the Uhuru-Odinga unity pact and his/her charges will conveniently get dropped.
“The truth is (if) you are a governor & you are about to be indicted for corruption, you just shout Wam(handshake) & they will respond (wam) BBI. You will be safe & you won’t be charged,” the Senator wrote on Twitter.
Cheeky Kenyans have loosely interpreted Murkomen’s Wam reference to the local Wamlambez-Wamnyonyez street slang popularised by musical group Sailors.
He continued to, however, warn such leaders that defecting to rival groups will trigger a comeback of the earlier trashed legal proceedings.
“Your file is waiting for the day you TangaTanga,” Murkomen said.
This is the TRUTH is you are a governor&you are about to be indicted for corruption,you just shout Wam(handshake)&they will respond (wam)BBI. You will be safe&you won’t be charged.Your file is waiting for the day you TangaTanga.Ask Waititu&Kasaine unconstitutionally out of office
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) November 4, 2019
The race towards the 2022 General Election has brought about a split within the ruling Jubilee Party, with factions allied to the president christening themselves Team Kieleweke, and those allied to Deputy President William Ruto, including Murkomen, adopting the name Tangatanga.
Following in the footsteps of Ruto, Team Tangatanga has been vocally opposed to the friendship between Uhuru and Odinga, and the consequent BBI efforts which, pundits expect, will take the country to a Constitution amendment referendum, that will greatly disadvantage Ruto and his 2022 presidential aspirations.
To support his Monday claims, Murkomen used embattled Kiambu and Samburu Governors Ferdinand Waititu and Moses Lenokulal, who have been kicked out of office and are under active investigation as examples.
“Ask Waititu & Kasaine unconstitutionally out of office,” Murkomen concluded.