NYANDARUA: Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdirazaak Jaldesa faced hostility today when members of the public interrupted him while reading President William Ruto’s speech during a public holiday celebration in Nyandarua.

The commissioner had just begun delivering the president’s message, as is customary for county administrators on national occasions, when the crowd erupted in jeers.

“This comes amid growing indications that President Ruto is losing favor in parts of the Mt. Kenya region, which overwhelmingly supported him in the last general election,” one observer noted on Facebbook handle.

Jaldesa began the speech with the standard acknowledgments: “The county governor, Moses Kiarie, the deputy governor, the MCAs…” but was quickly drowned out by the crowd’s disapproval.

“Tulieni tusikie hotuba ya rais wa Kenya,” (Calm down and listen to the speech of the president of Kenya), the commissioner pleaded, but his calls went unheeded.

As the situation escalated, the agitated crowd charged toward the dais, prompting police and National Government officers to surround Jaldesa for his protection.

Visibly shaken, he managed to complete the speech amid the noise.

By law, county commissioners and their deputies are mandated to deliver the president’s speech in their respective regions during such events.

However, today’s disruption highlighted growing tensions between the Kenya Kwanza government and sections of the Mt Kenya region.