KURIA WEST: Political leaders from the Kuria region in Migori County have strongly condemned the attack on President William Ruto during his public address in Kehancha town, Kuria West Sub-County.
A video of the incident, which has gone viral, shows President Ruto blocking a shoe thrown at him from the crowd during a public gathering at Kehancha municipal grounds.
This unfortunate event occurred as the President was concluding the launch of an affordable housing project in Kehancha, part of his three-day development tour in Migori County.
Kuria leaders, led by Principal Secretary for Social Protection and Senior Citizens Joseph Motari, have distanced themselves from the incident, calling it an isolated act rather than a coordinated effort.
Motari expressed his frustration, stating that neither the leaders nor the community planned or were aware of any plot to humiliate the President.
They are currently investigating the incident to determine the perpetrators and their motives.
“We are trying to uncover what happened, who was involved, and their reasons. It is deeply regrettable that this occurred during the President’s first visit to our town,” Motari explained.
He revealed that the individuals involved were youths who were apprehended by the police at the time of the incident.
There are indications they were under the influence of alcohol, raising questions about potential sponsors. Motari also asserted that he would have intervened to prevent the attack had he been aware of any planned disruption.
The absence of the Members of Parliament for Kuria West and Kuria East during the press briefing to condemn the attack raised questions, however, PS Motari dismissed any suggestion of a power struggle between the local leaders.
“I am not aware of any power struggles. We are working with security agencies to identify the real perpetrators,” Motari stated.
He warned that any leader found to have orchestrated the humiliation of the President would face severe consequences from the community.
Migori County Deputy Governor, Dr Joseph Mahiri, expressed gratitude to the President for his ongoing support and voiced his concern over the incident.
He further emphasized that the attack was the work of a few misguided individuals, not the entire Kuria community.
“On behalf of the Kuria community, I extend our deepest apologies to the President. This incident was not planned by the community and is deeply embarrassing. The offenders will be condemned,” Dr. Mahiri stated.
He reiterated the community’s long-standing support for President Ruto, dating back to his time as Deputy President, and pledged their continued support through 2032.
He also announced plans for a community dialogue to address the aftermath of the incident.
Makerero area Member of County Assembly, Patrick Marwa, speaking on behalf of the youth, stated that they refrained from reacting to the incident to allow security agencies to conduct their investigations.
He also expressed deep regret that the President was mistreated during his first visit as head of state.
“On behalf of the Kuria youth, I express our deepest regrets for this unacceptable behavior. We will assist in bringing those responsible to justice. They must be held accountable for their actions,” Marwa said.
President Ruto continues his development tour in Migori County, with planned project launches in Uriri, Awendo, Rongo, and Nyatike constituencies.
He is also scheduled to return to the Kuria region on Tuesday to inspect the Ntimaru ESP market, launch an affordable housing project in Ntimaru town, and donate a school bus to Gokeharaka Secondary School in Kuria West.
