Residents of Cheboror in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, have publicly condemned and distanced themselves from a group of youths who disrupted a recent rally attended by President William Ruto. The incident, which occurred during the President's development tour of the North Rift region, saw some leaders heckled by a group of unruly youths, sparking outrage among local elders and residents.
In a statement made at the Cheboror rally on Friday, where President Ruto launched several development projects, local leaders and elders, including Stanley Biwot Tololo, Paul Kurgat Tabora, and Margaret Kurgat, expressed their disapproval of the actions. The elders termed the heckling as “unfortunate” and “unnecessary,” attributing the disruption to politicians seeking to outshine their opponents in front of the President.
The elders accused certain leaders from the region of hiring youths to create chaos and foster political division. “We condemn those leaders who sponsored this act of lawlessness, undermining authority, and attempting to fuel political animosity between rival factions,” said Tololo.
The leaders also called on investigative agencies to probe the incident and hold accountable those responsible for funding the youths who participated in the disruption. “We want to ask our politicians to understand the power of humility and collaboration for a prosperous society. We discourage unnecessary competition and divisive acts,” Tololo added.
Kurgat echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for unity among local leaders. "Such acts are barbaric, uncivilized, and uncalled for. Our youth in this area were not part of that behavior. We encourage our leaders to work together, strengthen the community, uplift one another, and promote a unified vision for the future."
In a move to repair the situation, the elders and local youths offered a formal apology to President Ruto for the embarrassing incident. They expressed their gratitude to the President for the numerous development projects he has initiated in the region and urged him to continue working towards the region's growth.
The incident has raised concerns about the increasing levels of political intolerance and division in the region, with many calling for a return to respectful and cooperative leadership practices.