Police in Bomet have arrested two suspects believed to have taken part in heckling during President William Ruto’s tour to the county on Saturday.
The arrest of the two comes just a day after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki ordered a crackdown on organizers and financers of the incidents witnessed at the county and in Kericho.
Bomet County Commissioner Ahmed Omar told the Star that they were pursuing more individuals including politicians.
“By the end of today (Tuesday) there will be more suspects in custody, the investigations are ongoing,” said Omar.
“…We are hunting down for five to six others,” he added.
There were, however, no reports of any arrests by officers in Kericho by Tuesday afternoon.
County commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said the probe was active and that those behind will be arrested.
“We have not made any arrests yet but for sure it will come and no one will spared,” he said.
Kindiki who was on a tour to Kericho Monday stated that the security teams have a mandate of reigning in on unruly incidents in political meetings urging it to conclude investigations and apprehend the perpetrators regardless of their political or social standing.
“You must expeditiously conclude investigations into the recent incidents and apprehend all persons who organise, finance, and orchestrate hooliganism in the county,” said Kindiki.
While presiding over the launch of the tarmacking of Kyogong-Kapkesosio-Sigor-Longisa road at Kapkesosio centre in Chepalungu Saturday, Ruto was forced to repeatedly intervene after a section of youth jeered Governor Hillary Barchok.
“I do not want this kind of chaos in my meetings. United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is a party that embraces order. Allow the leaders to make their speeches and if they have not performed, wait and deal with them in the next general election by voting them out,” said a visibly angry Ruto.
A similar situation was witnessed in Bomet town.
On Sunday, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua weighed in on the matter saying he would summon leaders from the Rift Valley for an explanation of why there was a political unease in the region.
Gachagua said the region which voted for President William Ruto to the last man in the 2022 general election should not be experiencing any political tension.
“I am going to invite all leaders from South and North Rift Valley to get a better explanation of why some people from the region are heckling leaders in presidential functions,” he said.
“What we saw in Kericho and Bomet during a presidential working tour in the two counties is disheartening and must stop since all the positive things for the tour were overshadowed by the negative,” Gachagua said.
The DP told leaders from the region to stop supremacy battles among themselves since the 2027 general elections are still far.
“Why should one hire youths to heckle those in office…if you think they have failed, wait until elections are called and vote them out,” Gachagua said.
