Drama unfolded at various Jamhuri Day events as County Commissioners faced disruptions while attempting to read President William Ruto‘s speech.
Among the counties where rowdy youth disrupted the proceedings was Migori County in Nyanza, where youths in Rongo Sub-County refused to allow the reading of the President’s speech.
In videos seen by The Kenya Times, the youth were heard shouting and raising their hands to express discontent. The County Commissioner could be heard urging the youth to remain calm so he could proceed with reading the speech.
“Jameni, si muache tusome speech ya Rais,” he pleaded. Loosely translated to “Please, let us read the President’s speech.”
Migori and Nyanza Youth Disrupt Ruto’s Speech in Migori and Nyandarua
The incident happened at Rongo Primary School attended by Migori Governor, Dr Ochillo Ayacko.
At the same time, the Nyandarua County Commissioner bore the brunt of residents’ displeasure with the Kenya Kwanza administration as he read the president’s speech.
The incident occurred at Engineer Stadium when County Commissioner Mohamed Barre stepped onto the stage to read President William Ruto’s Jamhuri Day speech.
The previously calm crowd suddenly became chaotic, with people protesting loudly, standing up, and waving their hands in the air.
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Attempts by the County Commissioner to continue reading the speech were unsuccessful, as the booing from the angry crowd grew louder.
Barre could be heard asking the youth to relax, but his efforts bore no fruit.
“Naomba tutulie tusikilize hotuba ya Rais kwa wananchi,” he appealed. (Loosely translated to, “I kindly ask that we calm down and listen to the President’s speech to the people.”)
Some members of the audience approached the podium where the County Commissioner was speaking, shouting and effectively drowning out his voice.
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Youth Walk Away from Jamhuri Event
National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) quickly intervened to protect the County Commissioner from the hostile crowd as he attempted to continue reading the speech.
In videos seen by The Kenya Times, many attendees, frustrated by the Commissioner’s insistence on reading Ruto’s speech, staged a mass walkout from the venue, chanting anti-government slogans, while others loitered around the stadium.
“We have not been bribed but we don’t want him (Ruto). Let the Commissioner read the speech to his chiefs,” one youth is captured saying.
The incident comes just a few days after Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was forced to cut short his speech due to a hostile crowd heckling him during the Korom Festival in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
Murkomen had joined the stage, dancing to the music before attempting to address the revellers. However, as soon as the music stopped and he began his speech, the crowd erupted into chants of “Ruto Must Go,” disrupting his address.
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