Brandon, an outspoken lawmaker, caused trouble in his first term under retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee administration and continues to sizzle both on the floor of parliament, in public functions and during media interviews.

First, he chaired the powerful Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights committee in the 12th parliament but this was cut short in 2020 as he was purged along with those close to then Deputy President Ruto in Handshake mode.

He suffered a series of arrests over his public utterance coining the word “political persecution” as he was taken to face charges in Kisumu County while being arrested in Nandi County.

He was also arrested in Nairobi City County, detained at Upper Hill Police and charged to court, because of his statements, but not much seems to have changed.

Mr Cherargei has been in the news lately for trying to push presidential, parliamentary and government terms from five to seven years, sparking a political firestorm.

By the end of Friday’s deadline to get public input, at least 240,000 emails had been sent to the Senate, and Mr Cherargei appeared to falter during a public participation session in Nairobi.

In public, however, he emerged as a fierce defender of the ousted vice president Rigathi Gachagua – who are fighting in the corridors of justice, to keep their position. But it’s an endorsement that didn’t pan out as expected when the vice president needed it most.

However, Mr Cherargei’s stated stance on the impeachment, sticking to Mr Gachagua’s corner when his colleagues in the Rift Valley, President Ruto’s backyard, were deserting him, attracted attention.

“I did not give a hearing to the vice president in the interest of justice,” Mr. Cherargei said during the Senate hearing.

But when it came time to vote, the Nandi senator surprised friends and foes by voting to remove the vice-president by impeachment – ​​not long after he argued in Parliament that the 11 charges against Mr Gachagua were weak.

Mrs. Caroline Cherotich, a political commentator, said the senator stands out as one who speaks his mind. Critics, however, often question the senator’s motives.

Earlier, the senator had a public discussion with Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang on both local and national issues.

One of the issues related to alleged corruption in the roads sector – when Mr Murkomen was SC for Transport and Infrastructure – ended up in court with a defamation suit.

He also criticized the SC for allegedly displaying opulence in what is insensitive to Kenyans who are struggling to make ends meet in the tough economic times the country is facing.

From leaking roofs at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airports (JKIA) to the ongoing road construction projects in the country and especially in the Rift Valley where they both hail from and the battles for political supremacy, the senator has not missed an opportunity to take jabs. at CS

Mr Murkomen, is a former Senate Majority Leader and three-time elected Elgeyo Marakwet Senator before resigning to join President Ruto’s cabinet following the August 9, 2022 general election.

“When I raised the issue of the display of opulence by those in government, including the SC and members of Parliament, I was blamed and described as a fool. But Genz’s protests justified my position,” Mr. Cherargei said in an interview recently.

He also had a seemingly never-ending feud with Governor Sang over the alleged mismanagement of county resources and corruption in the county, which at times was seen to be linked to personal attacks as opposed to demanding accountability and role of surveillance.

Mr Sigey Bett, a lawyer based in Nairobi, said the senator cuts both ways, raising serious issues while sometimes being seen to be petty.

However, Mr Bett points out that Nandi County has always produced “fiery politicians who stood up to the state and left an indelible mark on Kenya’s democratic space”. He hopes the senator will follow the same path.

Nandi County has been home to some outspoken politicians including Mr Jean-Marie Seroney, Ms Jelagat Mutai and former Nandi Hills Member of Parliament Alfred Keter. The jury is still out on whether or not Mr Cherargei will be judged as another of the county’s best – or worst – political leaders.

In parliament, the senator has repeatedly drawn the ire of the president for his approach to issues, deviating from the rules of the house.

As a result, he was repeatedly thrown from the room, but this did not help to cool him later.

Despite being a lawyer familiar with the 2010 Constitution and the country’s laws on the separation of powers between the various arms of government, the senator advised the public. President Ruto to ignore court orders on various issues.

“Mr President, ignore the courts and proceed to implement your development agenda in the country. We can use court orders as blotting paper,” he told Dr Ruto on a tour of Nandi County earlier this year.

These views have led some critics, particularly on social media, to point out – sometimes in quite strong language – that he is not arguing like a lawyer.

He faulted the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, who also doubles as the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), on the shoddy work at Bunge Tower. He questioned the varying costs and whether Kenyans have value for money.

The President issued a gag order on the floor of the House, warning lawmakers to discredit the multi-billion dollar project inaugurated by President Ruto instead of exhausting domestic channels of resolution.

On many occasions, his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has been forced to distance himself from his statement or position, raising the question of why he missed out on chairing any of the powerful committees or elected for leadership positions as a rank-and-file member.

He has also identified himself as a defender of devolution and rooting county governments in the current constitutional order, despite the fact that he believes corruption has been devolved.

“Corruption has been transferred to the counties and with proper audits and action by the relevant government agencies, three-quarters of the governors would be in prison,” Mr. Cherargei said.

Governor Sang and Senator Cherargei have been involved in the last two terms in public discussions regarding the implementation of development projects, accountability and alleged corruption.

Mr Sang, in a letter to Mr Cherargei last year at the height of their spat over the governor’s Senate appearance before the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Investment Committee, described the senator as petty.

“You have chosen to engage in sideshows that often disturb your own colleagues. You have been repeatedly dismissed by your colleagues as petty and minor,” Mr. Sang said in the letter to Mr. Cherargei.

The governor argued that the senator showed a “lack of emotional acuity to delve into the issues captured in the auditor general’s reports.”

Although he did not make it public, the senator is said to have governorship ambitions in Nandi County.