More Rifts in UDA As Murkomen Sues Cherargei Over Chinese Tender Claims

Transport Cabinet Secretary Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen has sued Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei following a bitter fallout.

This was announced by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) elected senator on Monday, March 18, when he shared court documents served to him from Milimani Commercial Courts.

Responding to the civil suit, the Nandi Senator remarked that he would not be cowed while performing his oversight duties.

“We shall defend the great people of Nandi County in the quest for better roads through our blood and sweat,” Cherargei remarked after he was served with the lawsuit.

In December 2023, Cherargei alleged that CS Murkomen had sued him for claiming that he was given a KES 15 billion incentive by a Chinese investor.

This was after he was thrown out of Senate chambers during the grilling of the Transport Cabinet Secretary.

At the time, Cherargei was warned that he would be sued should he fail to issue an apology to CS Murkomen within seven days

The court documents shared by the Senator on Monday, show that the lawsuit was filed on March 12, 2024.

“You are hereby required within 15 days from the date of service hereof to enter an appearance in the said suit,” the court documents read in part.

“Should you fail to enter appearance within the time mentioned above, the Plaintiff may proceed with the suit and Judgement may be given in your absence.”

Murkomen had not acknowledged the suit by the time of going to publication.

Earlier, Cherargei had decried that the former Elgeyo Marakwet Senator was belittling him in social forums.

Meanwhile, the United Democratic Alliance is working with the Communist Party of China (CPC) in building and strengthening its structures for an ideology-centred political party, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said.

Speaking when he hosted the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Zhou Pingjian at the Karen Residence on Thursday morning, Gachagua- who was accompanied by the UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala- said parties established on firm ideologies contribute to socio-economic stability of a country.

“The United Democratic Alliance is the younger brother of CPC, but it is the party of the future. We want to develop it like CPC. Work with us in creating structures and building the capacity of our staff,” he said.

Gachagua said most political parties in Kenya have died after general elections, “but the UDA party has to be founded on an ideology that will outlive the current administration.”

Transfer of skills and good practices on running and managing political parties for posterity, like the 100-year-old CPC, the Deputy President noted, guarantees development resulting from a commitment to the ideology.

“It cannot be a party for elections only. We must make UDA be around for 100 years. Our Ideology is Bottom-up Economic Transformation. Training some of our staff will enable them to come back and transfer the knowledge to others,” Gachagua added.

Ambassador Pingjian said the Government of China is ready to support the UDA party because a stable Kenya is good for both countries.

He added that it has facilitated such training for a number of countries in Africa and across the globe.

“China and Kenya have enjoyed strategic partnership for 60 years. We have confidence in the leadership of President William Ruto. We see a lot of potential in further cooperation. We are ready to facilitate party to party exchanges,” he said.

The two leaders also discussed trade and investment opportunities for the benefit of the people of the two nations.

The Deputy President said Kenya is happy with the trade volumes but it is inviting Chinese investors to the country. Under the Kenya Kwanza Pillar of Manufacturing, Gachagua said, the country will benefit in job creation for the youth.

The Deputy President also held engagements with the President of the Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua of China, on partnership in media and development.

 

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