Lawyer Donald Kipkorir has defended Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i following his decision to abandon a trip to West Pokot.
A delegation led by Dr Matiang'i had to land at Eldoret International Airport due to bad weather, with the CS insisting that the pilot had advised against proceeding with the journey.
"State officers, including CS @EugeneLWamalwa, @IG_NPS, Rift Valley RC and I have been compelled to land at Eldoret Int'l Airport on our way to West Pokot due to inclement weather. We hope to make there soon to appraise recovery & response operations and make possible adjustments," Matiang'i said in a post on Twitter.
In a tweet, Mr Kipkorir wondered why a section of leaders were on Matiang'i's neck despite the fact that Deputy President William Ruto had visited the region.
"Why are some people bitter that CS Fred Matiangi didn’t go to West Pokot? Surely, if the Principal Assistant to the President is there, why do they need a Minister? Do they want the whole Government to relocate there? Sad that West Pokot MPs are trivializing a tragedy," Kipkorir wrote.
A section of MPs from West Pokot led by Pokot South MP David Pkosing had taken a swipe at Matiang'i following his decision to abandon the trip.
Mr Pkosing wondered why the CS could not use road transport given that Kapenguria is few kilometres from Eldoret where he had landed.
"As for CS Matiangi, I think he doesn't care or doesn't like our people despite H.E. the President giving express directions, in fact he called to tell me as such... Amekwama Eldoret, ati bad weather, which bad weather ...?
"Yeye ako na weather yake. Kwani kuna weather different ya Matiangi na watu wengine. In any event, Kapenguria is just 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Eldoret. Anyway, we are counting our true friends," he wrote.
At least 52 people have been confirmed dead following the deadly landslides in West Pokot on Saturday.