Police have arrested at least eight people following the chaos that rocked Deputy President William Ruto's tour in Busia County on Saturday, October 23.
This follows the order from the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, who directed Busia’s County Commissioner to work closely with the police to identify organizers and perpetrators of the violence.
Speaking during the launch of Trinity TV and Radio in Ol-Kalou, CS Matiang'i ordered that those involved be arrested and arraigned in the shortest time possible.
“We in the security sector have adopted a zero tolerance approach to those who would threaten our democratic values, starting with the perpetrators and organizers who disrupted H.E the DP William Ruto tour in Busia,” said Matiang’i.
He added that political leaders were free to move to any part of the country urging law enforcement agencies to act with fairness and neutrality when managing political gatherings.
“Political leaders and aspirants have a right to move freely within our borders and ours is to be neutral and act fairly to ensure an environment for a vibrant democratic debate,” the CS noted.
The DP who pitched tent in Busia County on Saturday to popularize his hustler movement faced hostility at Korinda Junction along Kisumu/Busia highway. Irate mob lit bonfire and barricaded the road, pelting the DP’s caravan with stones.
Several vehicles had their windscreens damaged following the incident, which Mr Ruto strongly condemned.
“My competitors are not development-conscious and that’s why they are giving our youth handouts and alcohol to cause violence. We came in peace and we are not interested in violence,” protested the DP.
