Two suspects believed to have heckled during President William Ruto's rally in Bomet over the weekend have been arrested.
Confirming the arrests, Bomet County Commissioner Ahmed Omar stated that the two are currently cooling their heels in police custody and are expected to appear in court tomorrow.
The commissioner also stated that they were pursuing more suspects involved in the heckling including politicians.
"We want to inform the public that we have done enough investigations and some of the investigations will continue. We have made two arrests so far and they are currently in police custody. We have more leads for others which we are following we believe that the two arrested will be taken to court tomorrow.
"We are following three groups of people, the planners the financers and those on the ground. We have evidence of some who were injured and we have information that some are trying to run away," he said.
The Commissioner also warned targeted suspects currently in hiding that they will soon be arrested. He also warned individuals against heckling in the presence of the Head of State.
"We want to warn them that we have enough information on them and we are following them closely. We also warn those who have intentions of heckling in the future," he added.
The latest comes after Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki ordered police and security agencies to go after organisers and financers of the heckling.
Issuing the orders on Monday, March 18, 2024, the CS asked police to arrest all perpetrators involved regardless of their political standing,
"You must expeditiously conclude investigations into the recent incidents and apprehend all persons who organise, finance, and orchestrate hooliganism in the county," Kindiki stated.
The president was forced to lecture a section of Bomet residents after they heckled Governor Hillary Barchok during his rally.
Ruto chewed out the residents saying he would not tolerate anyone heckling in his presence.
He subsequently advised the agitated residents to preserve their complaints and ait to vote out the governor in the 2027 election instead of booing at him.
"Nataka niwaambie kuleta mambo hii kwa mkutano mimi sitaki, nyinyi ndio mnapanga MCA, Mbunge, Seneta na gavana nataka niwaambie mtulize maneno, mkue ni watu wa kusoma barua ikiwa ndani ya bahasha. Kama kuna mtu hajafanya kazi mngoje siku ya uchaguzi mtamalizana nayeye, lakini wakati tuko na mkutano," the Head of State said.
His deputy Rigathi Gachagua also took a swipe at the residents saying it was shameful that they were disrespecting the country's first-in-command.
Gachagua further stressed that he would not condone the behaviour and promised to take action against the perpetrators.
