Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has blamed his Baringo counterpart Gideon Moi after his planned interview at KTN was cancelled.
Some minutes to the show on Sunday, Murkomen took to his official Facebook page to note his regret that he would not be appearing for the interview as it had been earlier politicized by the Standard Media Group-owned TV.
He noted that he had been doing a good job in the past by ensuring that 'media freedom' was not curtailed by any individual or a group with sinister motives.
The Senate Majority leader, however, expressed his worry over an existing conflict of interest between the ownership of the media houses and independence of the editorial teams.
"I am sorry to let you know that my colleague Senator Gideon Moi has cancelled my appearance at KTN #CheckPoint Tonight. I have always supported media freedom in Kenya. Unfortunately, the struggle between media ownership and editorial independence is real. I don’t have any ill will against news team. They have to do what they have to do," read Murkomen's post.
The Standard Media Group, under which KTN is, is believed to be owned by retired President Daniel Moi's family and the move by the TV station to cancells Murkomen's interview in the last minute has been seen as political.
The Senator is a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto who has been engaging in a supremacy battle for the Kalenjin vote with the retired President's son, Gideon.