Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Environment Keriako Tobiko on Friday missed a Kenya Forest Service College graduation ceremony in Londiani, Kericho in spite of being invited.
Tobiko was, however, represented in the ceremony by Dr Mohamed Elmi who is the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry.
"The event was supposed to be graced by the Environment cabinet secretary Dr Keriako Tobiko but he was absent and he was represented by the chief administrative officer in that ministry Dr Elmi Mohamed, " KTN reported. (0:43-0:55)
The CS has been in the cross-hairs of a section of Rift Valley leaders that has accused him of illegally pushing settlers out of the Mau Forest.
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has been vicious in his criticism of the Cabinet Secretary.
It is not clear whether the decision not to honour the invitation to the graduation ceremony in Kericho county was triggered by the Mau impasse.
Tobiko has maintained that settlers in the forest must move or be evicted since they are illegally settling in the important water catchment area.
Rift Valley leaders have vowed to oppose the evictions and told the settlers to stay put until an acceptable solution to the standoff is reached.