Political tensions have flared in Nakuru County after a group of leaders, led by Governor Susan Kihika, called for investigations into Senate Majority Leader and Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot over claims of alleged tribal-based night meetings.

The leaders accuse Cheruiyot of holding secret engagements with members of a specific community, which they argue risk deepening ethnic divisions in one of Kenya’s most diverse counties.

Speaking during a press briefing in Nakuru, the leaders expressed concern that such meetings, if true, could undermine social cohesion between the Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities, who form a significant portion of the county’s population.

They argued that Nakuru, given its history of politically driven ethnic tensions, cannot afford actions that may revive old wounds or fuel suspicion among communities.

Governor Kihika, who hails from the Kikuyu community, led the calls for a formal probe, stating that leaders must be held accountable for conduct that threatens unity.

She emphasized that political mobilization should be inclusive and transparent, warning against the use of ethnic identity as a tool for political bargaining.

“We cannot allow Nakuru to slide back into politics of exclusion and tribal mobilization. Leaders must engage openly with all communities and promote cohesion, not secrecy and division,” Kihika said.

However, the controversy has also exposed underlying political rivalries. Some leaders allied to Cheruiyot have dismissed the accusations as politically motivated, arguing that the claims are meant to discredit him and weaken his influence in Rift Valley politics.

They contend that the so-called meetings were routine political consultations and not ethnic gatherings.

At the same time, Kalenjin leaders within Nakuru have raised separate concerns, accusing Governor Kihika of sidelining their community in county leadership and key appointments.

They argue that despite the county’s ethnic diversity, governance structures are skewed in favour of one community, leaving others feeling marginalized.

This counter-accusation has complicated the debate, turning what began as a call for accountability into a broader conversation about ethnic balance in county governance.

Kalenjin leaders claim that their criticism of Kihika is being ignored, while attention is instead being shifted to Cheruiyot.