Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen drew national attention after inspecting a guard of honour made up of students whose bodies were painted yellow with the words Chama ni UDA during a prize giving ceremony at Tenwek High School in Bomet County.Images and videos from the event quickly spread across social media, triggering mixed reactions from Kenyans.
Murkomen attended the school’s annual prize giving ceremony as the chief guest, where outstanding students were recognised for their academic excellence and leadership.
Before the awards began, he inspected the guard of honour, whose appearance immediately became the biggest talking point of the day.
Photos shared online showed several students covered in yellow paint with the slogan associated with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) written across their bodies.
The display sparked widespread discussion on Facebook, X and TikTok, with many users expressing different views about the role of political symbolism during school events.
Addressing students, parents and teachers, Murkomen urged learners to remain disciplined and work hard in pursuit of their dreams.
While some online users described the colourful guard of honour as creative and entertaining, others questioned whether political messaging should be displayed at an educational function involving students.
The differing opinions kept the ceremony trending throughout the day.
The event took place at Tenwek High School, one of Bomet County’s respected learning institutions known for strong academic performance.
Annual prize giving ceremonies are traditionally organised to celebrate students’ achievements while motivating learners to aim even higher.
The incident also comes at a time when Kenyan politics remains highly active, with senior leaders making frequent public appearances across the country.
School events attended by prominent politicians often attract public interest because they bring together education, leadership and community engagement.
Despite the online debate, the ceremony continued as planned, with students receiving awards for academic excellence, sports and leadership.
Murkomen also interacted with teachers, parents and local leaders before concluding his visit.
At the time of publication, neither Tenwek High School nor the Ministry of Education had issued a public statement regarding the reactions to the UDA themed guard of honour.
The discussion is expected to continue online as more Kenyans weigh in on the images shared from the event.
As the photos continue circulating, attention is likely to remain on whether future school functions will adopt similar displays or maintain a strictly non political approach.