‘We will crush them’ – Kindiki declares war against goons after heckling during Ruto’s rally
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has declared war against goons who disrupt political meetings in the country through heckling.
This comes days after heckling was witnessed during President William Ruto's political rallies in Kericho and Bomet Counties.
"We have noticed with concern an increasing tendency of intolerance among political leaders. We are asking political leaders to conduct their business within the law and maintain peace within their political meetings. No person is allowed to disrupt public meetings, to use goons, to mete out violence and to harass members of the public. Politicians are allowed to differ on ideologies, programmes and policies because our Constitution allows multi-party democracy," Kindiki said.
"No politician of whatever stature is allowed to use violence, goons and criminals to harass, intimidate or incite the public against each other. I have left very firm and clear directives to the Trans Nzoia County Security Committee to be firm, ruthless and merciless on all people who sponsor, finance, encourage, support, aid and abet goons and political thugs who go to disrupt meetings organised by people of a different viewpoint."
Kindiki says that the crackdown will not be selective on whether the culprits are pro or anti-government, as all will be treated the same.
"It doesn't matter whether the organisers or sponsors are pro or anti-government. We will crush them equally. Nobody is above the law. They (politicians) are free to disagree with each other, they are free to have different opinions but they are not free to use criminals to harass, incite, intimidate and disrupt public meetings," Kindiki added.
Heckling in Ruto's rallies
In February, during President William Ruto's rally in Kiambu, Thika town MP Alice Ng'ang'a found herself being booed amidst her declaration of her ambitions to unseat Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi in the next General Election.
The MP was forced to cut short her speech in the presence of the President.
"Sikizeni, mimi ndio nitapinga gavana Wamatangi hapa Kiambu," Ng'ang'a said amid boos from the charged crowd.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua later intervened in the residents' behaviour stating that it was shameful that the residents were heckling at President William Ruto's rally. He asserted that the behaviour should be left to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members.
"Nataka niseme nikiwa hapa Kiambu, hio tabia ya kupiga kelele mbele ya mfalme si tabia ya watu wa mlima Kenya, ni tabia ya ODM na mimi nikiwa kiongozi wenu hapa sitaki kuona hio maneno tena. Pia nasema, wewe kama unataka kuleta vijana kuja kukuunga katika mkutano, usiwatoe mbali, watoe kutoka kule (ODM), kama lazima upange watu wakuje wakupigie makofi, usiwatoe mbali. Huyu ni mfalme wetu, president wa Kenya amekuja kutuletea maendeleo unaleta aibu mbele ya rais katika eneo ambayo sisi ni watu wa heshima, mimi nataka niambie governor, MP kuanzia leo hio maneno hatuezi kubali katika mlima,"Gachagua said.
On Saturday, Ruto was forced to intervene after the residents of Bomet started heckling Governor Hillary Barchok while giving his speech.
“Mimi nataka niwaambie hivi…kulete mambo hii kwa mkutano mimi staki…nyinyi ndio mnapanga MCA, MP, Senator, ata huyu Governor...Nataka mtulie na mkuwe watu wa kusoma barua ikiwa ndani ya bahasha. Kama kuna mtu ambaye hajafanya kazi, mngojeeni siku ya uchaguzi mtamalizana na yeye. Lakini kwa sasa, tuko na mkutano, wacheni aonge,” Ruto told the residents.
Governor Barchok's supporters and those of Senator Hillary Sigei had earlier engaged in stone-throwing before the President arrived in Bomet town.
In Kericho, the same was replicated in Kericho where Governor Eric Mutai was shouted down while delivering his speech in the presence of the President.
Mutai claimed that the hecklers had been sponsored to shout him down during the rallies.
"I know you have been sponsored to heckle me. These bad manners have to stop. I would not agree as Governor for this to continue happening. It must come to an end," Mutai said.
