Senate stalls security probe as absence of Murkomen, Kanja sparks standoff

A high-stakes Senate session on rising political violence collapsed on Thursday after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General Douglas Kanja failed to appear, prompting lawmakers to suspend proceedings and demand their physical attendance to answer mounting security concerns.

The Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations had scheduled the meeting to examine what members described as a worrying pattern of targeted attacks against political leaders.

However, despite the presence of officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, senators declined to proceed without the two top security officials.

Committee chairperson Fatuma Dullo ruled that the absence of the Cabinet Secretary and the Inspector General made it impossible to meaningfully engage on the matter, insisting that responsibility could not be delegated.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said the committee had expected direct engagement with those in charge, stressing that the seriousness of the issue required clear answers from the top.

“With all due respect, there is no need to engage officers who are not directly responsible. We expected to have a conversation with the Cabinet Secretary and the Inspector General, given the seriousness of the issues before us,” said Senator Sifuna.

Samburu Senator Lelegwe Ltumbesi backed the position, stating that the committee had never handled issues of such weight through representatives.

“There is no time we have handled a matter of this magnitude through representatives. The best course of action is to wait for the Cabinet Secretary to appear in person,” he said.

Committee Vice Chair Tom Ojienda said the meeting was critical, pointing to increasing political tension and recent attacks targeting leaders across the country.

“This meeting was very important because it touches on the security of leaders and the country at large. Only the Cabinet Secretary can provide the policy direction and assurances required,” he said.

Dullo emphasised that parliamentary practice requires Cabinet Secretaries to personally appear before committees when dealing with matters of national importance.

“This is a serious matter affecting the country and its leadership. We cannot proceed in the absence of those directly accountable,” she ruled.

The committee has now pushed the session to Thursday, April 23, 2026, directing that Murkomen, Kanja and the DCI boss appear in person. Senators warned that failure to address the growing trend of politically linked violence could undermine national stability.