A photo collage of Senator Hezena Lemaletian and Steve Lelegwe/FILEIn a detailed statement released Friday, Lelegwe said he was shocked by a viral video in which Lemaletian accused him of orchestrating violence against her, warning that such allegations, when made without evidence, were dangerous and could place lives at risk.
“I categorically and unequivocally deny these allegations in their entirety. I have never sent, instructed, facilitated, financed, or condoned any person or group to threaten, harm, or intimidate Sen. Hezena Malmal Lemaletian or any other person,” Lelegwe said.
He dismissed the claims as deliberate distortions designed to sensationalise and inflame public opinion rather than inform, noting that he has no personal or political conflict with the nominated senator.
According to Lelegwe, his interactions with Lemaletian have been minimal and strictly official.
“We rarely meet. Our interactions are limited to parliamentary business in Bunge. Since she became a senator, we have never met in any social setting or had any private engagement,” he said.
He added that the only recent occasions he recalled seeing her were briefly during the Maasai Cultural Week in Kajiado in November and later on January 24 in Maralal during a burial, where he offered condolences before leaving to attend other official duties.
Lelegwe further stated that Lemaletian herself had previously acknowledged that they had never had any confrontation, disagreement, or rivalry.
“At no point have I mentioned her name in my political discourse, questioned her ambitions or engaged her in any rivalry. There has been no motive, no history and no basis whatsoever for the allegations,” he said.
Addressing claims of political competition, the Samburu senator said he had not declared any intention to contest the Senate seat in 2027 and remained focused on executing his constitutional mandate.
He noted that past senatorial races in Samburu had been peaceful and that he maintained cordial relations with former competitors.
He also rejected any narrative portraying Samburu as hostile to women in leadership, citing the election of women leaders in the county.
"Samburu has elected a woman MP for two consecutive terms, and recently a woman won the Angata Nanyekie Ward by-election without violence. These facts completely undermine any insinuation of gender-based political hostility,” he said.
Following the allegations, Lelegwe recorded a formal statement at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), requesting a thorough and professional probe into the matter.
He said the claims had harmed his reputation and raised concerns about his personal safety and that of his family.
“I consider these allegations grave and deserving of full investigation. I am ready and willing to cooperate fully with investigators to establish the truth and bring the matter to a lawful and conclusive end,” he said, adding that he would pursue legal action, including defamation proceedings, if necessary.
The response comes after Lemaletian alleged in a viral video that Lelegwe had used goons to disrupt her political ambitions and endanger her life.
She further claimed that she had been warned against pursuing senior political seats such as governor or senator.
“To my friends and relatives, if anything happens to me, one family in Samburu and its allies in the political class should be blamed,” Lemaletian said.
The DCI is yet to comment publicly on the matter as investigations are expected to commence.
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