Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Sunday clarified that the heckling that made him exit stage midspeech in Kabarnet, Baringo County, was not primarily directed at him.
CS Murkomen was in the county to attend a football tournament on the invitation of the Baringo County Governor Chesire Cheboi.
While giving his speech, rowdy youth who had attended the match started chanting ‘Ruto Must Go’.
However, the Ruto in question was not President William Samoei, but rather a Football Kenya Federation (FKF) official in charge of grassroots football who had angered the crowd.
As the chants became incessant, Murkomen had to exit the stage which led to the postponement of the tournament.
“The men's finals were postponed after Baringo Youth FC from Kabarnet, Baringo Central, protested their loss against Chemogoch FC from Mogotio,” Murkomen explained.
Murkomen remarked that a majority of the people in attendance were Baringo Central fanatics; observing that they occupied more than half the stadium.
As such, the CS stated that their rowdiness could not allow the match to continue given their numbers.
He emphasized that the vitriol and disappointment were directed at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials and not him or President William Ruto.
“The players and the fans poured their frustrations on FKF officials, especially one Mr. Ruto, whom they felt, was not addressing their concerns,” the CS clarified.
Murkomen before calling off the tournament, had unsuccessfully tried to calm the situation and have the fans return to watching the match in a peaceful manner.
Noting that such an event should not be indefinitely postponed due to disagreements, Murkomen directed Baringo County leadership to swiftly solve the issue.
“I believe Governor Cheboi, with the local leaders, will resolve the small matter soon, and we shall return to Baringo to watch the men’s final and award all the winners,” the CS directed.
