By Faith Lagat
A Facebook post published on September 13, 2026, by Kenya News Flash claimed that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen mocked Deputy President Kithure Kindiki hours after violence disrupted a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) meeting in Nembure, Embu County.
The post featured a graphic attributing these words to Murkomen: “If you knew there were goons in Nembure, why did you go there? Stop whining with your saprano voice!”
The specific post carrying the claim published a day after the Nembure violence attracted about 1,300 reactions, 118 comments and 20 shares.
Background
On Saturday, September 12, 2026, a UDA meeting attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire at Nembure Stadium was disrupted by clashes. Groups of youths attempted to storm the restricted gathering, prompting police to lob tear gas to disperse the crowds. Several vehicles were burnt, and sections of the Embu-Meru Highway were barricaded.
Kindiki condemned the violence and urged political leaders to compete through policies rather than send young people to confront police. He said the youths involved, regardless of their political affiliation, were Embu and Kenyan citizens who deserved protection and guidance rather than deployment into confrontation with security forces.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen oversees the National Police Service and internal security. Following the disruption, the NPS described the incident as an “outrageous and criminal attack” on a public meeting presided over by the Deputy President. Police said a group attempted to breach the venue, prompting officers to intervene. Several people were arrested at the scene, order was restored, and investigations were launched.
The incident later took a more serious turn after medical findings established that two men, Moses Munene, 30, and Mike Lewis Macharia, 23, died from gunshot wounds. Autopsies conducted at Embu Level Four Hospital confirmed the cause of death. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) also opened a probe, recorded witness statements and reviewed police firearm records. Families of the deceased demanded justice.
Two suspects were arraigned as investigations continued. Manyatta MP John Gitonga Mukunji obtained anticipatory bail after police sought to question him. He denied involvement in the violence and publicly mourned the deaths. UDA subsequently petitioned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, seeking investigations into possible breaches of the political parties’ code of conduct.
Kindiki tasked the party’s Embu leadership with verifying the extent of losses and coordinating support for those affected. He also reiterated that UDA stood for issue-based politics centred on development records rather than violence or slogans.
Verification
The graphic originated from the Facebook page Kenya News Flash. The page has previously been flagged by independent fact-checkers, including Africa Check, over fabricated quotes attributed to Kenyan politicians. Kenya News Flash is a Facebook page and related YouTube channel that presents itself as a news and media platform under the tagline “The Pillar of Information”. Its listed address is in Eagan, Minnesota, USA, and it is not a mainstream or verified Kenyan news outlet.
A check of Murkomen’s verified Facebook and X accounts found no post, video or statement containing the attributed quote or similar language directed at Kindiki. No credible mainstream media report attributed the words to the Interior Cabinet Secretary.
Murkomen and Kindiki are both members of UDA. In the aftermath of the Nembure incident, there was no recorded public disagreement or personal attack between the two officials.
Murkomen has also publicly defended Deputy President Kithure Kindiki against personal attacks on his voice by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Speaking around 21–22 September 2026, Murkomen urged Gachagua to stop referring to Kindiki as “Soprano,” a long-running nickname used to mock the Deputy President’s high-pitched voice.
In remarks captured on video, Murkomen called on Gachagua to drop the insult, at one point asking rhetorically which “factory” Kindiki was supposed to visit to change his voice, underscoring that the jibe was unnecessary and unhelpful. Kindiki’s recorded response to the violence focused on condemning the use of youths in political confrontations, calling for issue-based competition and directing party structures to assess and address the damage.
Police statements similarly focused on restoring order, making arrests and pursuing those responsible. There is therefore no supporting evidence from Murkomen’s verified platforms, official government channels or independent reporting that he made the statement attributed to him.
Verdict
The claim that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen mocked Deputy President Kithure Kindiki after the Nembure violence is FALSE.
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