Kenyans angry after Murkomen inspects UDA-branded student guard of honour

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has sparked debate after inspecting a guard of honour made up of students painted yellow and bearing the slogan "Chama ni UDA" during a prize-giving ceremony at Tenwek High School.

Images from the event showed students, dressed in white shorts, sports vests and sneakers, with their bodies painted yellow and the words "Chama ni UDA" written across their chests.

Murkomen, accompanied by school officials and security personnel, was captured inspecting the formation before the students later arranged themselves to spell out the ruling party's slogan.

The display has triggered widespread debate over the use of students in political messaging and whether schools should serve as platforms for partisan expression.

It’s deeply troubling to see students being used by teachers to impress politicians. Having them paint themselves in UDA’s yellow colors during events is unfortunate and inappropriate. This was witnessed at Tenwek Boys during a function attended by Kipchumba Murkomen pic.twitter.com/dcNehFGTpl

— kibe (@kibetkiruiG) July 19, 2026

The photographs surfaced just days after the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) suffered a heavy defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Kamau Ngotho defeated UDA's Samuel Muchina by nearly 30,000 votes in a contest widely viewed as a key political test in the Mt Kenya region.

Political analysts attributed the loss to internal divisions within UDA, poor campaign coordination and growing voter dissatisfaction.

Against that backdrop, the Tenwek High School images have drawn increased scrutiny online.

Critics online argued that involving students in political branding undermines the neutrality of educational institutions and raises ethical concerns about using school events for partisan messaging.

"What's all this? And why is Sossion in a school uniform? What's with our politicians and their fetish for dressing up like schoolchildren? What is it meant to achieve?" asked one on X.

"The head of that school should be sacked and jailed. How do you teach democracy and what our Constitution say, while at the same time allowing such to go on? They are not even voters. We joke too much and allow mediocrity," added another.

The images have continued to circulate widely on social media, fuelling debate over the intersection of politics and education as attention gradually turns to the 2027 General Election.