Hecklers who disrupted Ruto’s event in Kericho to be arrested
The Interior Cabinet Secretary Professor Kithure Kindiki has said that an ugly incident that was witnessed in Kericho during President William Ruto’s visit on Thursday, March 14, will not be tolerated.
In his statement on Monday, March 18, after visiting the area in the ongoing war against illicit alcohol, bhang, and ethanol, the CS said that the security team has been tasked to reign in on incidents of disorderly conduct in political meetings.
“The security team is also tasked to reign in on incidents of disorderly conduct in political meetings, conclude investigations and apprehend the organisers, financiers and perpetrators of hooliganism in the County, regardless of their political or social standing,” Prof Kindiki said.
While visiting Kericho County on Thursday, President Ruto who was accompanied by his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and a host of leaders including area Governor Erick Mutai, was forced to calm the ground which was becoming hostile to its governor.
Also read: Ruto confronts hecklers at Meru rally
When the mic was handed over to Governor Mutai, the crowd started heckling, disrupting the governor’s speech.
“Listen, listen to me. Even if you make the noise. I know that you have been organized but we are here for a development event. We will not relent, no matter how you have been organized. We are here for the President’s event and this habit is very bad. It must be stopped in Kericho, we won’t allow it. As your governor, I will not allow this habit,” Governor Mutai said in Belgut sub-county, where the President had made a stopover to address hundreds of the residents after launching the Kapsuser-Sosiot road.
At one point, the President asked the residents to refrain from hooliganism and wait for the next election when they have an opportunity to remove the non-performing leaders.
Governor Mutai was elected on the UDA party ticket, the same as Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok who has been facing it rough recently as residents complain of the poor development state of the county.
Also read: WATCH: Ruto orders heckler at his rally to shut up or leave
CS Kindiki also added that the manufacture, sale and consumption of illicit alcohol and narcotic drugs is an existential national security threat that the government is determined to permanently eradicate, by suppressing the supply chain for the dangerous substances.
“Security managers at all levels countrywide are directed to ensure strict compliance and enforcement of the 25-point policy and operational guidelines issued by the Government on March 6, 2024, and will be held individually liable for any failure in the eradication of poisonous and toxic substances within their jurisdictions,” Kindiki said.
The CS held an early morning consultative forum with the Kericho County Security and Intelligence Committee led by County Commissioner Gabriel Kitiyo.