Dirib Gombo Chief Biqa Godana was on Sunday morning lynched by a mob while in attending a funeral at Garr Qarsa Saku Sub-county, Marsabit county.
Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet called for the speedy arrest of those involved.
The late Godana was murdered in cold blood for allegedly taking a political stand against one ethnic community in the county.
The deceased was allegedly targeted for elimination by his assailants for using derogatory language against his community on Saturday during a public event at Wayu.
The event was attended by former Marsabit governor and the current Labour CS Ukur Yattani at Camp Henry grounds in Saku Sub-county.
The words uttered by the deceased were purportedly meant to pit one ethnic community against the other.
The killing came against the backdrop of escalating tension and violence instigated by ethnic hostilities on Saturday afternoon at Garr Gafarsa, Horonderr village.
Saku MP Ali Dido Rasso condemned the killing of the chief terming it a barbaric act that can not be justified in any community.
"Every Kenyan is entitled to freedom of speech and expression in this country," Rasso said.
He said the region will never condone activities whose intent is creating commotion or pitting one community against the other.
The MP called on the security apparatus to move with speed and bring the culprits to book.
He termed mob justice as a very crude and wayward means of dispute resolution in the society and should never be embraced at all.